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Proposed Rule2024-13813

Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2024

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Published

June 25, 2024

Issuing agencies

Federal Communications Commission

Abstract

In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) seeks comment on revising the fee schedule of FY 2024 regulatory fees and on several additional regulatory fee issues, as described in the text below.

Full Text

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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 122 (Tuesday, June 25, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53276-53332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13813]

[[Page 53275]]

Vol. 89

Tuesday,

No. 122

June 25, 2024

Part III

Federal Communications Commission

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47 CFR Part 1

Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees
for Fiscal Year 2024; Proposed Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 89 , No. 122 / Tuesday, June 25, 2024 /
Proposed Rules

[[Page 53276]]

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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 1

[MD Docket No. 24-86; FCC 24-68; FRS ID 226976]

Review of the Commission's Assessment and Collection of
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2024

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission
(Commission) seeks comment on revising the fee schedule of FY 2024
regulatory fees and on several additional regulatory fee issues, as
described in the text below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 15, 2024. Reply
comments must be submitted on or before July 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419 of the Commission's
rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may file comments and
reply comments identified by MD Docket No. 23-159, by any of the
following methods below. Comments and reply comments may be filed using
the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). See
Electronic Filing of Documents in Rulemaking Proceedings, 63 FR 24121
(1998).
1. Comment Filing Procedures. Pursuant to sections 1.415 and 1.419
of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.415, 1.419, interested parties may
file comments and reply comments on or before the dates indicated on
the first page of this document. Comments may be filed using the
Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
<bullet> Electronic Filers: Comments may be filed electronically
using the internet by accessing the ECFS: <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/">https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/</a>.
<bullet> Paper Filers: Parties who choose to file by paper must
file an original and one copy of each filing.
<bullet> Filings can be sent by hand or messenger delivery, by
commercial courier, or by the U.S. Postal Service. All filings must be
addressed to the Secretary, Federal Communications Commission.
<bullet> Hand-delivered or messenger-delivered paper filings for
the Commission's Secretary are accepted between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
by the FCC's mailing contractor at 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, MD 20701. All hand deliveries must be held together with
rubber bands or fasteners. Any envelopes and boxes must be disposed of
before entering the building.
<bullet> Commercial courier deliveries (any deliveries not by the
U.S. Postal Service) must be sent to 9050 Junction Drive, Annapolis
Junction, MD 20701.
<bullet> Filings sent by U.S. Postal Service First-Class Mail,
Priority Mail, and Priority Mail Express must be sent to 45 L Street
NE, Washington, DC 20554.
2. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible
formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic
files, audio format), send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#98fefbfbada8acd8fefbfbb6fff7ee">[email&#160;protected]</a> or call the
Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice), 202-
418-0432 (TTY).
1. Pursuant to section 1.49 of the Commission's rules, 47 CFR 1.49,
parties to this proceeding must file any documents in this proceeding
using the Commission's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS): <a href="http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/">http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/</a>.
2. Materials in Accessible Formats. To request materials in
accessible formats for people with disabilities (Braille, large print,
electronic files, audio format), send an email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#60060303555054200603034e070f16">[email&#160;protected]</a> or
call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530
(voice).
3. Availability of Documents. Comments, reply comments, and ex
parte submissions will be available via ECFS. Documents will be
available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word, and/or Adobe
Acrobat. When the FCC Headquarters reopens to the public, these
documents will also be available for public inspection during regular
business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal Communications
Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554.
For detailed instructions for submitting comments and additional
information on the rulemaking process, see the SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roland Helvajian, Office of Managing
Director at (202) 418-0444.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is a summary of the Commission's Second
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 24-68, MD Docket No. 24-86,
adopted on June 12, 2024 and released on June 13, 2024. Comments, reply
comments, and ex parte submissions will be available via ECFS.
Documents will be available electronically in ASCII, Microsoft Word,
and/or Adobe Acrobat. When the FCC Headquarters reopens to the public,
these documents will also be available for public inspection during
regular business hours in the FCC Reference Center, Federal
Communications Commission, 45 L Street NE, Washington, DC 20554. To
request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities
(Braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#563035356366621630353578313920">[email&#160;protected]</a> or call the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
at 202-418-0530 (voice).

I. Administrative Matters

4. Ex Parte Information. The proceeding initiated by this NPRM, in
which we seek comment on proposals as described below, shall be treated
as a ``permit-but-disclose'' proceeding in accordance with the
Commission's ex parte rules. Persons making ex parte presentations must
file a copy of any written presentation or a memorandum summarizing any
oral presentation within two business days after the presentation
(unless a different deadline applicable to the Sunshine period
applies). Persons making oral ex parte presentations are reminded that
memoranda summarizing the presentation must (1) list all persons
attending or otherwise participating in the meeting at which the ex
parte presentation was made, and (2) summarize all data presented and
arguments made during the presentation. If the presentation consisted
in whole or in part of the presentation of data or arguments already
reflected in the presenter's written comments, memoranda, or other
filings in the proceeding, the presenter may provide citations to such
data or arguments in his or her prior comments, memoranda, or other
filings (specifying the relevant page and/or paragraph numbers where
such data or arguments can be found) in lieu of summarizing them in the
memorandum. Documents shown or given to Commission staff during ex
parte meetings are deemed to be written ex parte presentations and must
be filed consistent with section 1.1206(b) of the Commission's rules.
In proceedings governed by section 1.49(f) of the Commission's rules or
for which the Commission has made available a method of electronic
filing, written ex parte presentations and memoranda summarizing oral
ex parte presentations, and all attachments thereto, must be filed
through the electronic comment filing system available for that
proceeding, and must be filed in their native format (e.g., .doc, .xml,
.ppt, searchable .pdf). Participants in this proceeding should
familiarize themselves with the Commission's ex parte rules.
5. Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis. The Regulatory
Flexibility Act of 1980, as amended (RFA), requires

[[Page 53277]]

that an agency prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for notice and
comment rulemakings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule will
not, if promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a
substantial number of small entities.'' Accordingly, we have prepared
an Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA) concerning the
potential impact of rule and policy change proposals on small entities
accompanying the NPRM. The IRFA is set forth in Section VII of this
document.
6. Initial Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 Analysis. This document
may contain proposed new or modified information collection
requirements. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to
reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and OMB to comment
on any information collection requirements contained in this document,
as required by the PRA. In addition, pursuant to the Small Business
Paperwork Relief Act of 2002, Public Law 107-198, see 44 U.S.C.
3506(c)(4), we seek specific comment on how we might further reduce the
information collection burden for small business concerns with fewer
than 25 employees.

II. Introduction

7. For fiscal year (FY) 2024, the Commission is required to collect
$390,192,000 in regulatory fees, an amount equal to our annual salaries
and expenses (S&E) appropriation, pursuant to section 9 of the
Communications Act of 1934, as amended (Communications Act or Act), and
the Commission's FY 2024 Further Consolidation Appropriations Act. In
this annual Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), we seek comment on
the Commission's proposed methodology and regulatory fees for FY 2024,
as set forth in Tables 3, 4, and 7. In 2023, the Commission eliminated
the International Bureau, established a new Space Bureau and a new
Office of International Affairs, and reallocated the authorities and
functions of the International Bureau to the Space Bureau and the
Office of International Affairs. In light of these actions, we reviewed
the FY 2023 reallocations to determine if any changes are warranted,
and propose to slightly revise the FY 2023 reallocations to the core
bureaus, including the new Space Bureau and the new Office of
International Affairs, for FY 2024, as further detailed below.
8. We also seek comment on several additional regulatory fee
issues, including: (i) the calculation of television broadcaster
regulatory fees; (ii) how our proposals may promote or inhibit advances
in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility; (iii) the end of
temporary relief measures we implemented in response to the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic; (iv) our proposal to discontinue the
Commission's presumption that broadcast stations that are dark or were
recently dark or bankrupt are experiencing financial hardship
sufficient to justify waiver of their regulatory fees; and (v) ways in
which the Commission might assist regulatory fee payors in meeting
their annual regulatory fee obligations.

III. Background

9. Section 9 of the Communications Act of 1934 obligates the
Commission to assess and collect regulatory fees each year in an amount
that can reasonably be expected to equal the amount of its annual S&E
appropriation. Thus, the Commission has no discretion regarding the
total amount to be collected in any given fiscal year. For FY 2024, the
Commission must recover $390,192,000 as set forth in the FY 2024
Further Consolidation Appropriations Act. Regulatory fees recover all
of the Commission's direct costs, such as salaries and expenses;
indirect costs, such as overhead functions; statutorily required tasks
that do not directly equate with oversight and regulation of a
particular regulatee, but instead benefit the Commission and the
industry as a whole; and support costs such as rent, utilities, and
equipment. Regulatory fees must recover the total amount of the
appropriation; therefore, they also cover the Commission's costs
incurred in oversight and regulation of entities that are statutorily
exempt from paying regulatory fees (i.e., governmental and nonprofit
entities, amateur radio operators, and noncommercial radio and
television stations), entities that are exempt from payment of
regulatory fees because their total assessed annual regulatory fees
fall below the annual de minimis threshold, and entities whose
regulatory fees are waived. Pursuant to section 9(d) of the
Communications Act, the Commission's methodology for assessing
regulatory fees must ``reflect the full-time equivalent number of
employees within the bureaus and offices of the Commission, adjusted to
take into account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits
provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission's activities.''
10. In section 9 of the Communications Act, Congress prescribed a
method of collecting an amount equal to the full S&E appropriation by
keying the regulatory fee assessment to the Commission's FTE burden. As
a result, the fee assigned to each regulatory fee category relates to
the FTE burden associated with oversight and regulation of each
regulatory fee category by the relevant core bureaus. Because the total
amount the Commission must collect in an offsetting collection
generally changes each fiscal year, payors' regulatory fees will also
typically change each fiscal year as a mathematical consequence of the
changes in the total amount to be collected, the number of FTEs, and
projected unit estimates for each regulatory fee category. Beyond those
changed collection requirements, in considering changes, additions, or
deletions to the regulatory fee schedule the Commission focuses on
direct FTE cost burden related to the regulatory fee category at issue
within each core bureau. The Commission has explained that, consistent
with its statutory directive, it bases regulatory fees on the direct
FTEs in core bureaus. The Commission has stated that, given the
Communication Act's explicit language that fees must reflect FTEs, the
FTE counts are by far the most administrable starting point for
regulatory fee allocations.
11. The Commission does not assign direct FTEs within a bureau to
specific fee categories by rote or at random, but rather in a manner
that reflects the time spent by FTEs on a regulatory fee category,
which is in itself a reflection of ``benefit'' to the fee category.
Thus, we apportion regulatory fees across fee categories based on the
number of direct FTEs in each core bureau to take into account factors
that are reasonably related to the payor's benefits.
12. Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Allocation and Fee Calculation. The
Commission allocates FTEs according to the nature of the work performed
by its different organizational units. If the work performed by a group
or office is directly related to our oversight and regulation of a
regulatory fee category or categories in one of the five core licensing
bureaus, then such FTEs are counted as a direct FTE. If the work cannot
be allocated to one of the bureau's designated regulatory fee
categories, the work performed is counted as an indirect FTE. Under
this framework, the Commission, therefore, assesses the allocation of
FTEs by first determining the number of direct FTEs, those non-auctions
FTEs that work in each of the Commission's core bureaus (i.e., the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, the Media Bureau, part of the
Wireline Competition Bureau, the Office of International Affairs, and
the Space Bureau). Regulatory fees are initially

[[Page 53278]]

apportioned across the regulatory fee categories based on the number of
direct FTEs in each core bureau whose time is focused on a particular
industry segment and then is adjusted ``to take into account factors
that are reasonably related to the benefits provided to the payor of
the fee by the Commission's activities.''
13. The FTE time devoted to developing and implementing the
Commission's spectrum auctions is not included in the calculation of
regulatory fees and is not offset by the collection of regulatory fees.
Instead, such FTE time is offset by the auction proceeds that the
Commission is permitted to retain pursuant to section 309(j)(8)(B) of
the Communications Act and the Commission's annual appropriation. Thus,
spectrum auctions FTEs are not included in the calculation of
regulatory fees and the Commission's methodology excludes all spectrum
auction-related FTEs and their overhead from the regulatory fee
calculations. To the extent that FTEs within core bureaus spend a
portion of their time on auctions issues and a portion of their time on
appropriated issues, their time is split and only the non-auctions
portion of their time is reflected in the relevant core bureau's FTE
count.
14. Early in each fiscal year, the Commission receives FTE data
from its Human Resources Management office and identifies FTEs at the
core bureau level (i.e., direct FTEs), which is then used to determine
the FTE allocations for the five core bureaus. This FTE data is then
validated through consultation with the bureaus and apportioned to the
various fee categories within each core bureau based on FTE time spent
on each fee category. After the number of direct FTEs is determined for
each core bureau of the Commission, the direct FTE numbers are used to
calculate the percentage of the total amount of regulatory fees to be
collected for a given fiscal year. We allocate appropriated amounts to
be recovered proportionally based on the number of direct FTEs within
each core bureau. Those proportions are then subdivided within each
core bureau into fee categories among the regulatees served by the core
bureau. Finally, within each regulatory fee category the amount to be
collected is divided by a unit that allocates the regulatee's
proportionate share based on an objective measure.
15. In prior regulatory fee proceedings, the Commission has
categorized the FTEs in the Enforcement Bureau, Consumer and
Governmental Affairs Bureau, Public Safety and Homeland Security
Bureau, Chairwoman's and Commissioners' Offices, Office of the Managing
Director, Office of General Counsel, Office of Inspector General,
Office of Communications Business Opportunities, Office of Engineering
and Technology, Office of Legislative Affairs, Office of Workplace
Diversity, Office of Media Relations, Office of Economics and
Analytics, and Office of Administrative Law Judges, along with some
FTEs in the Wireline Competition Bureau and the International Bureau as
indirect for regulatory fee purposes. Unlike the work of direct FTEs,
the work of indirect FTEs in the non-core bureaus and offices is not
focused on the oversight and regulation of a specific category of
regulatory fee payors, but instead benefits the Commission, the
telecommunications industry, and the public as a whole. The
Commission's high percentage of indirect FTEs demonstrates that many of
our activities and costs are not limited to a particular fee category.
16. Adjustments and Amendments to Regulatory Fee Schedule. In
accordance with the statute, each year, in an annual fee proceeding,
the Commission proposes adjustments to the prior fee schedule under
section 9(c) to ``(A) reflect unexpected increases or decreases in the
number of units subject to the payment of such fees; and (B) result in
the collection of the amount required'' by the Commission's annual
appropriation. The Commission will also propose amendments to the fee
schedule under section 9(d) ``if the Commission determines that the
schedule requires amendment so that such fees reflect the full-time
equivalent number of employees within the bureaus and offices of the
Commission, adjusted to take into account factors that are reasonably
related to the benefits provided to the payor of the fee by the
Commission's activities. Pursuant to section 9A(b)(1) of the Act, the
Commission must notify Congress immediately upon adoption of any
adjustment. Pursuant to section 9A(b)(2) of the Act, the Commission
must notify Congress at least 90 days prior to making effective any
amendments to the regulatory fee schedule.
17. In implementing our section 9 authority, we consider the
adoption of a new regulatory fee category or a change in an existing
regulatory fee category only when we develop a sufficient basis for
making the change, and we work to ensure that all changes serve the
goal of ensuring that our assessment of regulatory fees is fair,
administrable, and sustainable. The Commission has adopted new
regulatory fee categories and new methodologies for calculating
regulatory fees when there is a sufficient basis for doing so under the
relevant statutory provisions and precedent, and based on the record.
Most recently, in 2020, the Commission included non-U.S. licensed space
stations with U.S. market access grants in the existing ``Space
Stations'' fee category. The Commission concluded that assessing the
same regulatory fees on non-U.S. licensed space stations with U.S.
market access as assessed on U.S. licensed space stations would better
reflect the benefits received by these operators, i.e., the
adjudicatory, enforcement, regulatory, and international coordination
activities by the Commission's FTEs in the International Bureau.

IV. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

18. In this NPRM, we propose and seek comment on regulatory fees
for FY 2024 as set forth in Tables 3, 4, and 7. We also seek comment on
several additional regulatory fee issues, including: (i) the
calculation of television broadcaster regulatory fees; (ii) how our
proposals may promote or inhibit advances in diversity, equity,
inclusion, and accessibility; (iii) the end of temporary relief
measures we implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; (iv) our
proposal to discontinue the Commission's presumption that broadcast
stations that are dark or were recently dark or bankrupt are
experiencing financial hardship sufficient to justify waiver of their
regulatory fees; and (v) ways in which the Commission might assist
regulatory fee payors in meeting their annual regulatory fee
obligations.

A. Assessment of Regulatory Fees

1. Methodology for Assessing Regulatory Fees
19. In FY 2024, the Commission is required to collect $390,192,000
in regulatory fees. Section 9 of the Communications Act requires us to
set regulatory fees to ``reflect the full-time equivalent number of
employees within the bureaus and offices of the Commission adjusted to
take into account factors that are reasonably related to the benefits
provided to the payor of the fee by the Commission's activities.'' Our
first step in establishing our regulatory fee schedule is to take into
consideration the adjustments necessitated by the more apparent changes
from the prior fiscal year regulatory fee proceeding, e.g., changes in
the (i) FY appropriation, (ii) FTE levels, and (iii) relevant unit
measures for each regulatory fee category. Such adjustments are often
considered ministerial. Our second step is a more

[[Page 53279]]

substantive review where we look to the core bureaus within the
Commission in order to identify the number of direct non-auction FTEs
in each core bureau for purposes of the regulatory fee calculation.
After we determine the number of direct FTEs for each core bureau, we
use these numbers to start our calculations of the percentage of the
total amount of regulatory fees to be collected for a given fiscal year
from each regulatory fee category within each core bureau. These
proportional calculations allocate all Commission non-auction related
costs across all regulatory fee categories.
a. Indirect FTE Reallocations
20. In FY 2023, the Commission found that the Commission's general
methodology for establishing regulatory fees has been, and continues to
be, appropriate and consistent with section 9 of the Communications
Act. The Commission therefore implemented this same methodology, but,
in addition to looking at the current allocation of direct FTEs within
the core bureaus, it also conducted a high-level analysis of the work
of the Commission's indirect FTEs in non-core bureaus and offices and,
where the Commission could determine with reasonable accuracy for FY
2023 that such work was spent on the regulation and oversight of a
regulatory fee payor, the Commission reallocated the burden of that
work as direct to a core bureau, solely for regulatory fee purposes. As
a result of this analysis, for FY 2023, 63 indirect FTEs located in the
Office of General Counsel, the Office of Economics and Analytics, and
the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau that were previously
considered to be indirect FTEs were allocated as direct FTEs to a core
bureau, for regulatory fee purposes, based on the Commission's
evaluation of the burden of their work. In the FY 2023 Report and
Order, the Commission explained that, while the Commission will
continue to evaluate whether any FTEs should be reallocated for
regulatory fee purposes each year when reviewing and validating the FTE
data, the Commission will exercise its discretion regarding where to
focus its analytical efforts each year to best respond to changes in
the Commission's substantive work and organization, and changes in the
telecommunications industry itself. The Commission therefore indicated
that where its analysis merits inclusion of proposed reallocations, it
will seek comment on any such potential reallocation of FTEs in an
annual proceeding.
21. For FY 2024, we propose to employ the same methodology the
Commission employed in FY 2023. We conclude, however, that changes
within the Commission's organizational structure and additional staff
resources merit a review of the FY 2023 reallocations. Specifically,
effective on April 10, 2023, the Commission eliminated the
International Bureau, established a new Space Bureau and a new Office
of International Affairs, and reallocated the International Bureau's
authorities and functions between the Space Bureau and the Office of
International Affairs. In light of these organizational changes, we
reviewed FTEs that were previously allocated to the International
Bureau as direct for regulatory fee purposes and we analyzed the work
done by those FTEs to determine whether such FTEs should be allocated
to the Office of International Affairs or to the Space Bureau. In
addition, FTE levels in the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau
have increased during this fiscal year. In light of these changes, we
analyzed the work of the new staff in the Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau to determine whether any of their work should be
allocated as indirect FTEs or allocated as direct FTEs to a core bureau
for regulatory fee purposes. We also analyzed the work of the FTEs in
the Office of General Counsel, the Office of Economics and Analytics,
and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau that we reallocated
in FY 2023 as direct FTEs to core bureaus for regulatory fee purposes
to determine whether their work assignments continue to merit
allocation of those FTEs as direct to a core bureau for regulatory fee
purposes.
22. Also, in instances where an FTE was previously allocated to the
International Bureau as direct for regulatory fee purposes, we analyzed
the specific work done by the FTE to determine whether such FTE should
be allocated to the new Office of International Affairs or the Space
Bureau. We limited our analytical efforts for FY 2024 to address the
specific changes within the Commission and did not conduct a high-level
analysis this fiscal year of all FTEs within the Commission as we
believe the adjustments we make for FY 2024 reasonably reflect the
major changes in the burden of work within the Commission. We thus
utilize our discretion to ensure that we conduct our annual review in a
manner that is fair, manageable, and sustainable. As described in more
detail below, we propose that, for FY 2024, approximately 69 indirect
FTEs should be reallocated as direct FTEs to a core bureau for
regulatory fee purposes, based on our evaluation of the burden of their
work. We find that these proposed reallocations are consistent with
section 9 of the Communications Act, which requires us to base our
methodology on the number of FTEs in calculating regulatory fees.
b. Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fee Rates
23. On March 13, 2024, the Commission released the Space and Earth
Station Regulatory Fees NPRM seeking comment on proposed changes to the
regulatory fee methodology used for assessing space and earth station
regulatory fees for FY 2024. In this NPRM, we propose regulatory fee
rates in Tables 3 and 4, based on our existing methodology, and
regulatory fee rates in Table 7 based on the proposals set forth in the
Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM. Our proposed space and
earth station regulatory fee rates are, however, estimates because we
recognize that, ultimately, final space and earth station regulatory
fee rates are dependent upon the outcome of the Space and Earth Station
Regulatory Fees NPRM proceeding. We also recognize that there could be
a combination of the proposals based upon commenters' feedback and the
outcome of the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM.
Accordingly, we do not seek comment again in this proceeding on the
specific proposals to adjust our existing methodology for assessing
space and earth station regulatory fees, or to adopt an alternative
methodology for assessing space station regulatory fees, which were set
forth in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM. Instead,
comments pertaining to the proposals set forth in the Space and Earth
Station Regulatory Fees NPRM regarding the categories and allocation of
fees for space and earth stations should be submitted in the
proceeding, MD Docket No. 24-85, and need not be submitted again in
response to this NPRM. In this item, we specifically seek comment on
the proposed regulatory fee rates for space and earth station payors
for FY 2024 based on the proposals set forth in the Space and Earth
Station Regulatory Fees NPRM.
24. The existing schedule of regulatory fees for space and earth
station payors is contained in section 1.1156 of the Commission's
rules. There are four current categories of space station payors: Space
Stations (Geostationary Orbit); Space Stations (Non-Geostationary
Orbit)--Less Complex; Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Other;
and Space

[[Page 53280]]

Station (Small Satellites). ``Less Complex'' NGSO systems are defined
as NGSO satellite systems planning to communicate with 20 or fewer U.S.
authorized earth stations that are primarily used for Earth Exploration
Satellite Service (EESS) and/or Automatic Identification System (AIS).
``Small Satellites'' are space stations licensed pursuant to the
streamlined small satellite process contained in section 25.122 of the
Commission's rules. The Space Stations (Small Satellites) category also
includes ``small spacecraft'' licensed pursuant to the analogous
streamlined procedures of section 25.123 of the rules. In addition,
there is a single category of earth station payors--Earth Stations:
Transmit/Receive & Transmit only. Since our fiscal year 2020
proceeding, non-U.S. licensed space stations granted market access to
the United States through a Petition for Declaratory Ruling or through
earth station licenses are subject to regulatory fees.
25. Under the existing methodology of calculating regulatory fees
for space and earth station payors, the Commission multiplies the space
station and earth station FTE allocation percentages by the target goal
of collections (overall total amount to collect), respectively, to
determine the amount to be collected from each regulatory fee category.
Since 2020, the space station allocation percentages reflect an 80/20
split between the GSO and NGSO regulatory fee categories, respectively.
The amount to be collected by the space station and earth station
regulatory fee categories, divided by the projected number of units,
determines the fee rate. There are several space station regulatory fee
categories--GSO, NGSO ``other,'' NGSO ``less complex,'' and small
satellites--and each of these regulatory fee categories has its own
respective FTE allocation percentage to determine the fee rate. The
small satellite fee rate is calculated by taking the average of the
calculated fee rate for space stations in the NGSO ``other'' and NGSO
``less complex'' categories. The average fee rate is then multiplied by
5% (1/20) and rounded to the nearest $5 to determine the small
satellite fee rate. The small satellite fee rate is then multiplied by
the number of small satellite units, and the amount derived is divided
by an 80/20 split and reduced from the target goals of NGSO-Other and
NGSO-Less Complex, respectively. After reducing the NGSO ``other'' and
NGSO ``less complex'' target goal amounts, the fee rates for both of
these NGSO regulatory fee categories are re-calculated (dividing the
revised target goal by its respective unit count) to reflect a slightly
lower fee rate. We calculate the proposed regulatory fees for space and
earth station payors for FY 2024 under this existing methodology in
Tables 3 and 4, taking into account the changes in the Commission's S&E
appropriation for FY 2024, as well as the change in the percentage of
direct FTEs allocated to the Space Bureau as a result of the
elimination of the International Bureau and the establishment of a new
Space Bureau and a new Office of International Affairs. We seek comment
on these proposed regulatory fee amounts.
26. In the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM, we sought
comment on a range of proposed changes related to the regulatory fee
methodology for assessing space and earth station regulatory fees. The
space and earth station regulatory fees calculated under our existing
methodology could change substantially if these proposed changes are
adopted, in part or in whole, and are effective for FY 2024. For
example, if the proposal is adopted to amend the existing fee
methodology to change the allocation of regulatory fee assessments for
GSO and NGSO space stations from the current 80/20 split to a 60/40
split, the proposed regulatory fees for NGSO space stations will be
greater than the amount calculated under the existing methodology, and
the proposed regulatory fees for GSO space stations will be less.
Similarly, the change proposed in the Space and Earth Station
Regulatory Fees NPRM to assess regulatory fees on authorized, not just
operational, space stations may increase the number of units of space
station payors, which in turn could decrease the calculated per unit
regulatory fee for GSO and NGSO space station payors. This and other
proposed changes, such as the proposal to adopt regulatory fees for
Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), On-Orbit Servicing (OOS),
and Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTV), could assess fees on space station
regulatees that may not be assessed regulatory fees under the existing
methodology. Furthermore, the earth station regulatory fees calculated
for FY 2024 under the existing methodology would increase substantially
if the proposals of the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NRPM
were adopted and effective for FY 2024, which could also result in a
decrease in the amount of regulatory fees calculated for space station
payors. Finally, the alternative methodology for assessing regulatory
fees proposed in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM would
replace the existing four categories of space station regulatory fees
for GSO and NGSO space stations with a single fee category for all
space stations and a fee for small satellites. This would also
substantially change the regulatory fees calculated for FY 2024 under
the existing methodology.
27. We provide calculations of possible space and earth station
regulatory fees if the proposals of the Space and Earth Station
Regulatory Fees NPRM were adopted and effective for FY 2024 in Table 7.
We acknowledge the difficulty of making these calculations while the
Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees NPRM proceeding is still
ongoing and it is unknown whether the proposals will be adopted, in
part, in whole, or a variation thereof, in time to be effective for FY
2024. In addition, the number of units per fee category depends on
whether certain proposals in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory
Fees NRPM are adopted or not. To address these difficulties, we
explain, as part of our calculations within Table 7, the methodology
and the underlying assumptions for arriving at the calculated
regulatory fees in order to provide as much information as reasonably
possible at this time to potential commenters. We seek comment on these
calculations and the methodology and underlying assumptions that went
into them.
28. Based on the foregoing, we seek comment on these proposals and
on the proposed FY 2024 regulatory fees as set forth in Tables 3, 4,
and 7. We recognize that, due to the potential variations to our
proposals as described in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees
NPRM, there could be slight changes to the proposed regulatory fee
rates upon adoption of the regulatory fee rates in a subsequent Report
and Order. Any proposals or comments requesting a change or
modification to our proposed methodology in this NPRM and regulatory
fees for FY 2024 should include a thorough analysis showing a
sufficient basis for making the change. Commenters should also provide
alternative options for the Commission to meet its statutory obligation
to collect the full amount of the appropriation by the end of the
fiscal year, and indicate how such proposed alternative options are
fair, administrable, and sustainable.
2. Adjustment of Reallocations, for Regulatory Fee Purposes, of Certain
Indirect FTEs as Direct FTEs
29. According to information provided by our Human Resources
Management office, there currently are

[[Page 53281]]

404 direct non-auctions FTEs for FY 2024 that are distributed among the
core bureaus. In FY 2023, the Commission reallocated 63 indirect FTEs
from the Office of Economics and Analytics, the Office of General
Counsel, and the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau and added
those FTEs as direct to the relevant core bureau solely for the
purposes of collecting regulatory fees. Today, we revisit those
reallocations in light of the elimination of the International Bureau
and the creation of the Space Bureau and the Office of International
Affairs, and additional hires in the Public Safety and Homeland
Security Bureau. As a result of our analysis, for FY 2024 we proposed
to reallocate 69 indirect FTEs from the Office of Economics and
Analytics, the Office of General Counsel, and Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau and add those FTEs as direct to the relevant
core bureau solely for the purposes of collecting regulatory fees.
30. Our calculations of direct FTEs under our proposal, which are
more fully detailed below, would be as follows: Office of International
Affairs (8), Space Bureau (51), Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(121), Wireline Competition Bureau (153.25), and Media Bureau (140).
Based on these proposed reallocations and after adjustments are made to
these direct FTE counts to implement Commission precedent, we would
collect approximately $6.59 million (1.69%) in fees from the Office of
International Affairs regulatory fee payors; $42.14 million (10.80%) in
fees from the Space Bureau regulatory fee payors; $100.05 million
(25.64%) in fees from Wireless Telecommunications Bureau regulatory fee
payors; $126.69 million (32.47%%) in fees from Wireline Competition
Bureau regulatory fee payors; and $114.72 million (29.40%) in fees from
Media Bureau regulatory fee payors.
31. For purposes of this determination for FY 2024, we used the
same analysis as was done in FY 2023 and evaluated whether measurable
FTE time for FY 2024 is primarily being spent on the regulation and
oversight of regulatory fee payors. Specifically, where the amount of
work under consideration equaled .5 FTE or less, we rounded down to the
nearest whole FTE and only proposed our reallocations in one full FTE
increments. The Commission concluded that less than a full-time FTE
demonstrates that the work being done is appropriately considered to be
indirect and should not be reassigned. The table below summarizes the
FY 2023 reallocations and the proposed FY 2024 reallocations.

Table 1--Core Bureau FY 2023 FTE Percentages With FY 2024 Proposed FTE Reallocation Adjustments
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2023 amount FY 2024 amount
with FTE with FTE
reallocations FY 2024 reallocations
FY 2023 FTE % (millions) proposed FTE % (millions)
Core Bureau with FTE ---------------- with adjusted ---------------
reallocations FY 2023 FTE FY 2024
appropriation reallocations appropriation
was $390.192 is $390.192
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wireline Bureau................................. 35.91 $140.12 32.47 $126.69
Media Bureau.................................... 31.76 123.9 29.40 114.72
Media Bureau; subcategory Broadcasters.......... 14.12 55.10 13.09 51.08
Media Bureau; subcategory Cable................. 17.64 68.83 16.31 63.64
Wireless Bureau................................. 24.56 95.83 25.64 100.05
International Bureau............................ 7.77 30.32 N/A N/A
Office of International Affairs................. N/A N/A 1.69 6.59
Space Bureau.................................... N/A N/A 10.80 42.14
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

32. Based upon our re-evaluation of indirect FTE time in the Office
of Economics and Analytics, the Office of General Counsel, and the
Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, we propose that 69 indirect
FTEs should be reallocated as direct FTEs because they devote their
time to the oversight and regulation of regulatory fee payors. We
therefore propose to reallocate the FTE time as direct to the relevant
core bureaus and office for calculating regulatory fees. Consistent
with the Commission's determination in FY 2023, we propose to continue
to reallocate two direct FTEs from the Media Bureau as indirect because
the nature of their work is sufficiently linked to work that is similar
to that performed in the Enforcement Bureau, which has previously been
categorized as indirect. We find no reason at this time to alter this
determination and conclude that the time of two FTEs in the Media
Bureau should continue be considered indirect. We seek comment on this
conclusion. Below, we discuss our analysis for the Office of Economics
and Analytics, the Office of General Counsel, and the Public Safety and
Homeland Security Bureau.
33. Office of Economics and Analytics (OEA) FTEs. In FY 2023, the
Commission reallocated 30 indirect FTEs from OEA as direct to a core
bureau for regulatory fee purposes as follows: two to the International
Bureau, eight to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, 13 to the
Wireline Competition Bureau, and seven to the Media Bureau. Consistent
with the Commission's analysis in the FY 2023 Regulatory Fee Report and
Order, we continue to find that there is measurable work done by OEA
that is being done directly in furtherance of the oversight and
regulation of regulatory fee payors in certain industry segments. For
FY 2024, staff analysis of OEA's work, however, has slightly changed
from FY 2023 to FY 2024 and rather than reallocating two FTEs as direct
for regulatory fee purposes as was done in FY 2023, based on OEA staff
analysis, specifically one FTE is reallocated to the Space Bureau based
on OEA's work on satellite service related issues. We therefore propose
to adjust the FY 2023 allocations for OEA and allocate 29 indirect FTEs
from OEA as direct to a core bureau for a regulatory fee purposes for
FY 2024 as follows: one to the Space Bureau, eight to the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, 13 to the Wireline Competition Bureau, and
seven to the Media Bureau. We seek comment on this proposed allocation
for FY 2024.
34. Office of General Counsel (OGC) FTEs. In FY 2023, the
Commission reallocated five indirect FTEs from OGC as direct to a core
bureau for regulatory fee purposes as follows: one to the Wireline
Competition Bureau, two to the Wireless Telecommunications

[[Page 53282]]

Bureau, one to the Media Bureau, and one to the International Bureau.
Consistent with the Commission's analysis in the FY 2023 Regulatory Fee
Report and Order, we continue to find that the majority of OGC's work
is appropriately categorized as indirect, however, certain aspects of
OGC's work are sufficiently linked to the oversight and regulation of
individual regulatory fee categories such that, for FY 2024, four FTEs
from OGC should be reallocated as direct FTEs to a relevant core bureau
for regulatory purposes. For FY 2024, staff analysis of OGC's work has
also slightly changed from FY 2023 to FY 2024 in that no OGC indirect
FTEs will be reallocated to what was formerly the International Bureau
(now, the Office of International Affairs and the Space Bureau). We
make this proposal because OGC FTE time devoted to the Office of
International Affair's efforts is for FY 2024 focused on Office of
International Affair's matters other than the Office of International
Affair's regulatory fee payors (satellite and international bearer
circuits and submarine cables). We therefore propose to adjust the FY
2023 allocations for OGC and allocate four indirect FTEs from OGC as
direct to a core bureau for regulatory fee purposes for FY 2024 as
follows: one to the Wireline Competition Bureau, two to the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, and one to the Media Bureau. We seek comment
on this proposed allocation for FY 2024.
35. Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) FTEs. In FY
2023, the Commission reallocated 28 indirect FTEs from PSHSB as direct
to a core bureau for regulatory fee purposes as follows: 13 to the
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, nine to the Wireline Competition
Bureau, and six to the Media Bureau. PSHSB advises and coordinates
within the Commission on all matters pertaining to public safety,
homeland security, national security, cybersecurity, emergency
management and preparedness, disaster management, and related matters.
Consistent with the Commission's analysis in the FY 2023 Report and
Order, to the extent that the bureau leads initiatives that strengthen
public safety and emergency response capabilities enabling the
Commission to assist the public, first responders, law enforcement,
hospitals, the communications industry and all levels of government in
times of emergency, we continue to conclude that the majority of its
work is best categorized as indirect. In FY 2023, the Commission,
however, concluded that specific aspects of the FTE work within PSHSB's
three divisions--the Policy and Licensing Division, the Operations and
Emergency Management Division, and the Cybersecurity and Communications
Reliability Division--is sufficiently linked to the oversight and
regulation of individual regulatory fee categories such that certain
FTE time should be reallocated as direct to a relevant core bureau for
regulatory purposes. For FY 2024, we continue to conclude that certain
aspects of the of the FTE work in these divisions of PSHSB can be
allocated as direct to a core bureau because such work provides direct
oversight and regulation of specific regulatory fee categories. Staff
therefore analyzed the work of the 28 indirect FTEs which were
allocated as direct to a core bureau in FY 2023 and their analysis of
the work performed of the 28 indirect FTEs remains unchanged. Since FY
2023, PSHSB has 11 additional FTEs. Consistent with the Commission's
analysis in the FY 2023 Regulatory Fee Report and Order, we analyzed
the work PSHSB was able to accomplish with the additional 11 FTE
resources and determined it was directly in furtherance of the
oversight and regulation of regulatory fee payors of a core bureau. We
therefore propose to adjust the FY 2023 allocations and allocate a
total of 38 PSHSB FTEs as direct to a core for regulatory fee purposes
for FY 2024 as follows: 16 to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau,
11 to the Wireline Competition Bureau, and nine to the Media Bureau,
and two to the Space Bureau. We seek comment on this proposal.
36. Conclusion of the Proposal to Reallocate Certain Indirect FTEs
from OEA, OGC, and PSHSB as Direct FTEs to a Relevant Core Bureau. As
represented above, FTE time associated with the proposed reallocations
for regulatory fee purposes would be added to the relevant core bureau.
Such a reallocation for regulatory fee purposes would result in
increasing the number of direct FTEs in a core bureau and reducing the
total number of indirect FTEs within the Commission. Because our
underlying methodology for calculating regulatory fees remains
unchanged, we conclude that our fee regulatory fee calculation
continues to be consistent with section 9 of the Communications Act,
which requires us to base our methodology on the number of FTEs in
calculating regulatory fees. We seek comment on this conclusion.
37. We continue to be mindful that our treatment of FTEs as direct
or indirect can change over time based on our evaluation of the FTE
burden associated with the Commission's work assignments, fluctuations
within industry segments, and needs of specific regulatory fee payors.
As depicted in the table below, the percentage of regulatory fees
allocated to each core bureau has generally decreased due to the
increase in the number of FTEs from FY 2023 within the core bureaus.
The only exception to this is the FY 2024 allocation of direct FTEs to
the Space Bureau. Because there are more direct FTEs in the Space
Bureau attributable to space and earth station fee payors than there
were in the International Bureau, the percentage of regulatory fees
allocated to the Space Bureau in FY 2024 is larger than the FY 2023
allocation to the International Bureau. The table below shows the
proposed reallocations of a total of 69 FTEs to each of the core
bureaus, as discussed above. Such reallocations, for regulatory fee
purposes, would be proportionally distributed within the core bureau.
We seek comment on these reallocations for FY 2024.

Table 2--FTE Allocations: FY 2023 and FY 2024
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total # of Total # of Total # of
FY 2023 FTE direct FY 2023 FY 2023 % direct FY 2024 FY 2024 FTE Direct FY 2024 FY 2024 % after
Core bureau/ office reallocations FTEs With FTE after FTEs Without FTE reallocations FTEs With FTE reallocations
reallocations reallocations reallocations reallocations
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Bureau +2 from OEA..... 31 7.77 N/A............. N/A............. N/A............. N/A
(Reorganized in April 2023). + 1 from OGC....
Total additional
FTEs +3.

[[Page 53283]]

Office of International N/A............. N/A N/A 8............... +0 from OEA..... 8............... 1.69
Affairs (Submarine Cable and +0 from OGC.....
International Bearer Total additional
Circuits). FTEs +0.
Space Bureau (Space and Earth N/A............. N/A N/A 48.............. +1 from OEA..... 51.............. 10.80
Stations). +2 from PSHSB...
Total additional
FTEs +3.
Wireless Telecommunications +8 from OEA..... 98 24.56 95.............. +8 from OEA..... 121............. 25.64
Bureau. +2 from OGC..... +2 from OGC.....
+13 from PSHSB.. +16 from PSHSB..
Total additional Total additional
FTEs +23. FTEs +26.
Wireline Competition Bureau... +13 from OEA.... 143.25 35.91 128.25.......... +13 from OEA.... 153.25.......... 32.47
+1 from OGC..... +1 from OGC.....
+9 from PSHSB... +11 from PSHSB..
Total additional Total additional
FTEs +23. FTEs +25.
Media Bureau.................. +7 from OEA..... 128 31.76 125............. +7 from OEA..... 140............. 29.40
+1 from OGC..... +1 from OGC.....
+6 from PSHSB... +9 from PSHSB...
-2 from MB -2 from EB
Reallocated as Reallocated as
Indirect. Indirect.
Total additional Total additional
FTEs +12. FTEs +15.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..................... 63.............. 400.25 100 404.25.......... 69.............. 473.25.......... 100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

38. As reflected in the table above, our proposals to adjust the
reallocation of 63 indirect FTEs as direct for regulatory fee purposes
in FY 2023 to 69 indirect FTEs as direct for regulatory fee purposes in
FY 2024 will result in a 17.1% increase in our overall direct FTE count
for FY 2024, and an increase of 18.2% in the overall direct FTE count
from FY 2023. We continue to make these proposals consistent with our
long standing regulatory fee methodology and conclude that our
determinations are reasonably accurate for fiscal year 2024. We seek
comment on our proposals and this tentative conclusion. While our
proposals adjust the reallocations for regulatory fee purposes for FY
2024, we are mindful that FTE's work in OEA, OGC, and PSHSB can change
from year to year and we want to avoid any unplanned shifts in
regulatory fees on an annual basis that would undermine the goals of
having a fair, administrable, and sustainable program. In light of the
creation of the Space Bureau and Office of International Affairs and
the expanded number of FTEs in PSHSB, it was necessary to review the
Commission's FY 2023 allocations to ensure a reasonably accurate
allocation of direct and indirect FTEs to the core bureaus for the
calculation of regulatory fees for FY 2024.

B. Elimination of the International Bureau

39. In January 2023, the Commission eliminated the International
Bureau and established: (1) a Space Bureau to handle policy and
licensing matters related to satellite communications and other in-
space activities under the Commission's jurisdiction; and (2) an Office
of International Affairs to handle issues involving foreign and
international regulatory authorities as well as international
telecommunications and submarine cable licensing. The reorganization
became effective on April 10, 2023. When the Commission adopted
regulatory fees for FY 2023, it noted that it would be the last year
for doing so for the International Bureau. The Commission anticipated
that the elimination of the International Bureau and the creation of
the Space Bureau and the Office of International Affairs, could result
in a change in the number of FTEs, due to increased oversight of
various relevant industries. Accordingly, the Commission stated that it
would closely review the Space Bureau and Office of International
Affairs FTEs to determine the appropriate number of FTEs in each entity
as a result of the reorganization and how they will be apportioned
among the different services. Accordingly, for purposes of FY 2024 and
going forward, we discuss the functions and FTE allocations of the
Office of International Affairs and the Space Bureau below.
1. Office of International Affairs
40. The Office of International Affairs (OIA) is responsible for
the Commission's engagement of foreign and international regulatory
authorities, including multilateral and regional organizations. OIA
also facilitates through rulemaking and licensing the Commission's
development of policies regarding international telecommunications
facilities and

[[Page 53284]]

services, including submarine cables, and advises and makes
recommendations to the Commission on foreign ownership issues. In
undertaking these functions, OIA implements Commission policies to
facilitate competition and foreign investment in U.S. international
telecommunications markets while ensuring, in consultation with
relevant federal partners, that national security, law enforcement,
foreign policy, and trade policy concerns are addressed. OIA also is
responsible for intergovernmental leadership, negotiation and
international and inter-agency representational functions.
Additionally, OIA oversees and coordinates the Commission's global
participation in international and multilateral conferences, regional
organizations, cross-border negotiations and international standard
setting efforts. Further, OIA also oversees bilateral meetings with
other countries and foreign government officials.
41. OIA is composed of the Telecommunications and Analysis Division
(TAD) and the Global Strategy and Negotiation Division (GSN). Because
the majority of OIA's work does not benefit specific regulatory fee
payors, but rather the government as whole, consistent with Commission
precedent, we conclude that the majority of the work of its FTEs is
appropriately categorized as indirect. As the Commission discussed in
the FY 2023 Report and Order, all FTEs in GSN are considered indirect
FTEs. Specifically, GSN staff represent the Commission in international
conferences, meetings, and negotiations, and manage Commission
participation in the fellowship telecommunication training program for
foreign officials offered through the U.S. Telecommunications Training
Institute (USTTI) as well as the Commission's International Visitors
Program. They also participate in various international and regional
organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil
Aeronautics Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, and the Inter-
American Telecommunication Commission. GSN also coordinates cross-
border issues with Mexico and Canada that involve a wide range of
services, such as maritime, aeronautical, mobile and fixed satellite,
broadcasting, mobile, and terrestrial wireless services. In addition,
GSN's functions include international broadcasting station licensing
and coordination of frequencies for International Broadcast licenses at
the ITU. GSN's multilateral and bilateral international work ultimately
benefits all fee payors by maintaining and advancing the United States'
global leadership and interests, which encompasses, among others, U.S.
trade, foreign policy, and national security interests. Thus, the work
of GSN does not benefit a specific fee payor, but rather the government
as whole and is therefore appropriately categorized as indirect. There
are, however, 8 FTEs within TAD that work on international bearer
circuit related issues, including the services provided over submarine
cables, and their time can be appropriately categorized as direct in
furtherance of the oversight and regulation of specific regulatory fee
payors. Therefore, we conclude, for FY 2024, that there are a total of
47 FTEs within OIA, 8 direct FTEs and 39 indirect FTEs. We seek comment
on this conclusion.
2. Space Bureau
42. The Space Bureau plays a key role in advancing the Commission's
Space Innovation Agenda to meet the needs of the next generation Space
Age. The Space Bureau promotes a competitive and innovative global
communications marketplace by leading policy and licensing matters
related to satellite and space-based communications and activities.
Among its responsibilities, the Space Bureau leads complex policy
analysis and rulemakings; authorizes satellite and earth station
systems used for space-based services; streamlines regulatory processes
to provide maximum flexibility for operators to meet customer needs;
and fosters the efficient use of scarce spectrum and orbital resources.
The Space Bureau also serves as the Commission's focal point for
coordination with other U.S. government agencies on matters of space
policy and governance, and collaborates with OIA for consultations with
other countries, international and multi-lateral organizations, and
foreign government officials that involve satellite and space policy
matters.
43. The Space Bureau is comprised of the Satellite Licensing
Division (SLD), Satellite Programs & Policy Division (SPPD), and the
Earth Station Licensing Division (ESLD). These new divisions have the
responsibilities and authorities for the analysis and functions that
were housed within the Satellite Division of the International Bureau,
including its branches, the Policy Branch, the Engineering Branch, and
the System Analysis Branch. ESLD is responsible for the technical
analysis, review, and licensing of applications and special temporary
requests for satellite earth stations. SLD is responsible for the
engineering review of satellite systems applications, and for
registering FCC-licensed satellite systems with the ITU. SPPD develops
and administers rules, regulations, and policies to support a
competitive and innovative space-based global telecommunications
marketplace. Our Human Resources Management office has provided data
identifying 54 FTEs in the Space Bureau to be counted for FY 2024. The
Space Bureau anticipates that 48 of these FTEs will be categorized as
direct FTEs, with the exception of six FTEs that work exclusively, or
nearly exclusively, on matters that do not provide oversight and
regulation of a specific category of regulatory fee payors. A number of
space related activities indirectly benefit the existing fee
categories, including space stations, commercial mobile services, and
earth stations. For example, the Space Bureau coordinates with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), State Department on space sustainability, planetary
protections, and on space innovation. Staff in ESLD, SLD, and SPPD
assist the Office of Engineering & Technology in reviewing applications
for experimental licenses for space-based activities. Lastly, the Space
Bureau works closely with GSN staff in the Office of International
Affairs to help cover certain ITU World Radiocommunications Conference
(WRC) agenda items. These six Space Bureau FTEs would therefore be
considered indirect.
44. Of these six indirect FTEs, three FTEs work with the staff of
the Office of International Affairs on covering ITU World
Radiocommunications Conference (WRC) agenda items, and three FTEs work
with the staff of the Office of Engineering & Technology on
experimental licenses involving space or earth stations. Thus, we
conclude that such FTEs are indirect since such work does not focus on
the oversight and regulation of a specific category of regulatory fee
payors, but instead benefits the Commission, the telecommunications
industry, or the public as a whole, or in the case of work done on
experimental licenses, is in furtherance of licenses that are not
subject to a regulatory fee.
45. In addition to the 48 direct FTEs out of the 54 FTEs identified
by our Human Resources Office, as indicated above, we also propose to
reallocate one FTE from OEA and two FTEs from

[[Page 53285]]

PSHSB as direct to the Space Bureau for regulatory fee purposes. We
therefore conclude, for regulatory fee purposes for FY 2024, there are
a total of 54 FTEs within the Space Bureau, 48 direct FTEs and six
indirect FTEs, and three indirect FTEs that are designated as direct
for a total of 51 direct FTEs and six indirect FTEs. We recognize that
the increase in number of direct FTEs allocated to the Space Bureau
will directly result in a significant increase in regulatory fees for
Space Bureau regulatory fee payors between FY 2023 and FY 2024. This is
true even though the amount of appropriated S&E for FY 2024 remains the
same as for FY 2023 due to the significant increase in the number of
direct FTEs attributed to the Space Bureau. We seek comment on this
conclusion.

C. Broadcast Television Stations

46. In the FY 2020 Report and Order, we completed the transition to
a population-based full-service broadcast television regulatory fee.
The population-based methodology conforms with the service authorized
here--broadcasting television to the American people. For FY 2024, we
propose to continue to assess fees for full-power broadcast television
stations based on the population covered by a full-service broadcast
television station's contour. Currently, we use 2010 U.S. Census data
to assess fees for full-power broadcast television stations. In FY
2024, we will use the results of the 2020 U.S. Census. As a result,
there will be no need to make any population adjustments to account for
reductions in the population since 2010. However, the Commission will
continue to base assessments on limiting the population count of full-
power television stations that rely on satellite television stations to
reach terrain-limited areas. We seek comment on our mechanism,
described below, for how we will calculate the regulatory fee based on
the previously decided population-based methodology. We propose
adopting a factor of $.006598 per population served for FY 2024 full-
power broadcast television station fees. The population data for
broadcasters' service areas are determined using the TVStudy software
and the LMS database, based on a station's projected noise-limited
service contour. The population data for each licensee and the
population-based fee (population multiplied by $.006598 for each full-
power broadcast television station is listed in Table 8. We seek
comment on these proposed fees.

D. Digital Equity and Inclusion

47. The Commission, as part of its continuing effort to advance
digital equity for all, including people of color, persons with
disabilities, persons who live in rural or tribal areas, and others who
are or have been historically underserved, marginalized, or adversely
affected by persistent poverty or inequality, invites comment on any
equity-related considerations and benefits (if any) that may be
associated with the proposals and issues discussed herein.
Specifically, we seek comment on how our proposals for collecting
regulatory fees for FY 2024 may promote or inhibit advances in
diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, as well the scope of
the Commission's relevant legal authority. We note that diversity and
equity considerations, however, do not allow the Commission to shift
fees from one party of fee payors to another nor to fees under section
9 of the Act for any purpose other than as an offsetting collection in
the amount of our annual S&E appropriation.

E. Temporary Relief Measures Due to Economic Effects of COVID-19
Pandemic

48. During the COVID-19 pandemic and through FY 2023, the
Commission provided certain temporary relief to regulatory fee payors
experiencing financial hardship caused or exacerbated by the COVID-19
pandemic through a combination of partial rule waivers and direction to
the Office of the Managing Director in exercising its delegated
authority. As we explain below, we do not plan to implement these
temporary measures for FY 2024. The circumstances for which the
measures were temporarily implemented have changed. The National
Emergency COVID-19 pandemic has ended and the national economy is
rebounding. We seek comment on the following proposals.
49. For FY 2023, the Commission directed the Office of the Managing
Director to continue to exercise its delegated authority to partially
waive section 1.1910 of the Commission's rules to allow regulatees on
``red light'' and experiencing financial hardship to nonetheless
request waiver, reduction, deferral, and/or installment payment of
their FY 2023 regulatory fees, provided that those regulatees resolve
all of the delinquent debt they owe to the Commission in advance of the
Commission's decision on their relief requests. For fiscal year 2024,
we do not intend to direct the Office of the Managing Director to
exercise its discretion in this manner in this proceeding. This means
that absent grant of individual requests for waiver of section 1.1910
of our rules, the Commission would not act on a request for waiver,
reduction and/or deferral of a regulatory fee filed by a fee payor on
red light until full payment of the fee payor's delinquent debt and
that the Commission would dismiss the request if the debt was not paid
in full within 30 days of the filing of the request.
50. During FY 2023 the Commission also directed OMD to offer a
nominal interest rate and waive its down payment requirement for
installment payment of regulatory fee debt. For FY 2024, the Commission
does not intend to direct Office of the Managing Director to fix the
interest rate charged on installment debt at a nominal rate or to waive
the requirement that regulatory fee debtors seeking installment payment
relief make a downpayment. That means that the Office of the Managing
Director will have authority to, but will not be required to, assess a
minimum interest rate on regulatory fee installment debt, and will have
authority to assess a higher rate of interest if it determines that a
higher rate of interest is necessary to protect the interests of the
United States. In addition, the Office of the Managing Director will
have authority to require a down payment from a regulatory fee payor
seeking installment payment relief.
51. During FY 2023, the Commission partially waived section 1.1166
of our rules to permit fee payors seeking waiver, reduction and/or
deferral of their FY 2023 regulatory fees based on financial hardship
to submit financial documentation supporting their requests after their
underlying requests are submitted, but the Commission modified the
waiver to permit only one post-filing submission of supplemental
financial documents by a deadline of January 31, 2023. This was a
change from FY 2022, in that we limited our rule waiver to more closely
align it with the requirements of section 1.1166, anticipating a return
to the normal operation of section 1.1166. For fiscal year 2024, we do
not intend to direct OMD to waive any aspect of this rule in this
proceeding. Absent individual waiver requests being granted, this means
that parties seeking waiver, reduction and/or deferral relief to submit
with their requests all such financial documentation necessary to
justify the relief sought on financial hardship grounds. Documents
submitted after a request is filed would not be considered, and failure
to submit any supporting financial documentation

[[Page 53286]]

with a request would result in dismissal and/or denial of the request.
52. We recognize that some regulatory fee payors may be
experiencing lingering or continuing financial difficulties related to
the pandemic's economic effects, but we believe that sections 1.1166
and 1.1914 of our rules, now streamlined and simplified, offer those
fee payors a straightforward path to regulatory fee relief. Commenters
that disagree with our proposals should explain why any continued
relief based on the COVID-19 pandemic is necessary or justified, and to
the extent continuation of any measure requires waiver of a
Commission's rule, commenters should explain why good cause exists for,
and the public interest would be served by, waiver or modification of
the relevant rule.

F. Non-Operating Broadcast Stations

53. We seek comment on ending a policy of presuming that dark or
silent stations have experienced financial hardship and therefore merit
grant of a request for waiver of regulatory fees on the basis of
financial hardship, without requiring submission of evidence of actual
financial hardship. This policy was first mentioned by the Commission
in 1995, observing that when a broadcast station is dark, it is
``generally based on financial hardship.'' The Commission then
concluded that ``it is unnecessary to require a licensee to make a
further showing of financial hardship'' when requesting a waiver of
regulatory fees. In articulating this policy in 1995, the Commission
assumed that most stations go dark because of financial hardship and
observed that ``broadcast stations which are dark must request
permission to suspend operation'' under FCC rules. In 1996, the
Commission's Office of the Managing Director applied the presumption to
regulatory fees assessed in the first year of a station's operation by
a licensee that purchased a recently dark or bankrupt station.
54. The Commission has never codified this policy and it is rarely
used. The policy, moreover, appears to assume that the only rationale
for a dark or silent station is financial duress. There is no such
limitation, however, contained in section 73.1740(a)(4) of our rules.
Licensees might go dark for different reasons depending on each
station's particular circumstances. Thus, drawing on the Commission's
experience since establishment of the policy in 1995, the assumption
that requiring financial information in a request for waiver of
regulatory fees is unnecessary by the operators of a dark or silent
station appears to be no longer accurate in 2024.
55. In considering whether a licensee is experiencing financial
hardship sufficient to justify a waiver under section 1.1166 of our
rules, the Commission considers the financial circumstances of the
licensee, including all of its assets and revenue streams. In the case
of a licensee with multiple stations, the silence of one of its
stations does not automatically mean that the licensee's overall
financial circumstances are such that it cannot pay its stations'
regulatory fees and continue operating its remaining stations.
Similarly, it is not always the case that a newly purchased station
that was previously dark or bankrupt is insufficiently funded in its
first year of operations such that its regulatory fees cannot be paid.
A new station owner may have other revenue sources, including from its
other stations it operates, or financing for the new station's start-up
costs. In other words, while a station's silence or reduced operation
may be the result of, or may cause financial hardship, we tentatively
conclude that the question of whether that is in fact the case is more
appropriately determined on a case-by-case basis.
56. For these reasons, we propose to end the assumption that
stations are dark or were recently dark or bankrupt are experiencing
financial distress when they file a request for waiver of regulatory
fees. We propose instead to require these licensees to submit
supporting financial documentation with their fee requests to prove
financial hardship sufficient to justify a fee waiver, just as all
other regulatory fee payors are required to do under ection 1.1166 of
our rules. In order to give regulatory fee payors more time to make any
necessary changes to comply with this change in policy, we propose to
make the change effective for fiscal year 2025. We seek comment on this
proposal.

G. Improving the Regulatory Fee Process

57. We have a statutory obligation to assess and collect regulatory
fees each fiscal year to meet the Commission's S&E appropriation. At
the same time, we are committed to ensuring that the regulatory fee
process is administratively manageable and reasonably predictable for
both the Commission and regulatory fee payors. We therefore seek
comment on ways in which the Commission might improve the regulatory
fee process to ensure that regulatory fee payors can timely meet their
annual regulatory fee obligations. We ask that commenters explain the
legal bases for any proposals they make and how such proposals fit
within the Commission's statutory authorizations and our existing
regulatory fee methodology.
58. Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act. Consistent
with the Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act, Public Law
118-9, a summary of this document will be available on <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/proposed-rulemakings">https://www.fcc.gov/proposed-rulemakings</a>.

H. New Regulatory Fee Categories

59. Finally, we continue to seek additional comment on ``whether we
should adopt new regulatory fee categories and on ways to improve our
regulatory fee process regarding any and all categories of service.''
We invite additional comment in order to help inform our consideration
of these issues.

V. Procedural Matters

60. Included below are procedural items as well as our current
payment and collection methods. We include these payments and
collection procedures here as a useful way of reminding regulatory fee
payers and the public about these aspects of the annual regulatory fee
collection process.
61. Credit Card Transaction Levels. In accordance with Treasury
Financial Manual, Volume I, Part 5, Chapter 7000, section 7065.20a--
Credit Card Collections, the total daily credit card transactions
processed from a single customer can be no more than $24,999.99
(hereinafter the ``Maximum Daily Limit'') and the total monthly
transactions processed from a single customer (based on a rolling 30-
day period) can be no more than $100,000.00 (hereinafter the ``Maximum
Monthly Limit''). Transactions greater than the Maximum Daily Limit
will be rejected. If a customer initiates multiple transactions on the
same day with the same credit card, those transactions causing the
total charge to exceed the Maximum Daily Limit will also be rejected.
This limit applies to single payments or bundled payments of more than
one bill. Multiple transactions to a single agency in one day may be
aggregated and treated as a single transaction subject to the
$24,999.99 limit. Customers who wish to pay an amount greater than
$24,999.99 should consider available electronic alternatives such as
Visa or MasterCard debit cards, Automates Clearing House (ACH) debits
from a bank account, and wire transfers. Each of these payment options
is available after filing regulatory fee information in CORES. Further
details will be provided regarding payment methods and

[[Page 53287]]

procedures at the time of FY 2024 regulatory fee collection in Fact
Sheets, <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/regfees">https://www.fcc.gov/regfees</a>.
62. Payment Methods. During the fee season for collecting
regulatory fees, regulatees can pay their fees by credit card through
<a href="http://Pay.gov">Pay.gov</a>, ACH, debit card, or by wire transfer. Additional payment
instructions are posted on the Commission's website at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer">https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer</a>. The receiving bank
for all wire payments is the U.S. Treasury, New York, NY (TREAS NYC).
Any other form of payment (e.g., checks, cashier's checks, or money
orders) will be rejected. For payments by wire, an FCC Form 159-E
should still be transmitted via fax so that the Commission can
associate the wire payment with the correct regulatory fee information.
The fax should be sent to the Commission at (202) 418-2843 at least one
hour before initiating the wire transfer (but on the same business day)
so as not to delay crediting their account. Regulatees should discuss
arrangements (including bank closing schedules) with their bankers
several days before they plan to make the wire transfer to allow
sufficient time for the transfer to be initiated and completed before
the deadline. Complete instructions for making wire payments are posted
at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer">https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/wire-transfer</a>.
63. Standard Fee Calculations and Payment Dates. The Commission
will accept fee payments made in advance of the window for the payment
of regulatory fees. The responsibility for payment of fees by service
category is as follows:
<bullet> Media Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for initial
construction permits that were granted on or before October 1, 2023 for
AM/FM radio stations, VHF/UHF broadcast television stations, and
satellite television stations. Regulatory fees must be paid for all
broadcast facility licenses granted on or before October 1, 2023.
<bullet> Wireline (Common Carrier) Services: Regulatory fees must
be paid for authorizations that were granted on or before October 1,
2023. In instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned
after October 1, 2023, responsibility for payment rests with the holder
of the permit or license as of the fee due date. Audio bridging service
providers are included in this category. For Responsible Organizations
(RespOrgs) that manage Toll Free Numbers (TFN), regulatory fees should
be paid on all working, assigned, and reserved toll free numbers as
well as toll free numbers in any other status as defined in section
52.103 of the Commission's rules. The unit count should be based on
toll free numbers managed by RespOrgs on or about December 31, 2023.
<bullet> Wireless Services: Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS)
cellular, mobile, and messaging services (fees based on number of
subscribers or telephone number count): Regulatory fees must be paid
for authorizations that were granted on or before October 1, 2023. The
number of subscribers, units, or telephone numbers on December 31, 2023
will be used as the basis from which to calculate the fee payment. In
instances where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after
October 1, 2023, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of
the permit or license as of the fee due date.
<bullet> Wireless Services, Multi-year fees: The first eight
regulatory fee categories in our Schedule of Regulatory Fees (first
seven in our Calculation of Fees in Table 4) pay ``small multi-year
wireless regulatory fees.'' Entities pay these regulatory fees in
advance for the entire amount period covered by the five-year or ten-
year terms of their initial licenses, and pay regulatory fees again
only when the license is renewed, or a new license is obtained. We
include these fee categories in our rulemaking to publicize our
estimates of the number of ``small multi-year wireless'' licenses that
will be renewed or newly obtained in FY 2024.
<bullet> Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (MVPD) Services
(cable television operators, Cable Television Relay Service (CARS)
licensees, DBS, and IPTV): Regulatory fees must be paid for the number
of basic cable television subscribers as of December 31, 2023.
Regulatory fees also must be paid for CARS licenses that were granted
on or before October 1, 2023. In instances where a permit or license is
transferred or assigned after October 1, 2023, responsibility for
payment rests with the holder of the permit or license as of the fee
due date. For providers of DBS service and IPTV-based MVPDs, regulatory
fees should be paid based on a subscriber count on or about December
31, 2023. In instances where a permit or license is transferred or
assigned after October 1, 2023, responsibility for payment rests with
the holder of the permit or license as of the fee due date.
<bullet> International Services: Regulatory fees must be paid for
earth stations that were licensed (or authorized) on or before October
1, 2023. Regulatory fees must also be paid for Geostationary orbit
space stations (GSO) and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems
(NGSO), and the two NGSO subcategories ``Other'' and ``Less Complex,''
that were licensed and operational on or before October 1, 2023.
Licensees of small satellites that were licensed and operational on or
before October 1, 2023 must also pay regulatory fees. Proposals have
also been made to assess regulatory fees on all space stations that are
authorized only (earth stations are feeable when they become licensed
or authorized). Proposals have also been made to adopt regulatory fees
for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO), On-Orbit Servicing
(OOS), and Orbital Transfer Vehicles (OTV). In instances where a permit
or license is transferred or assigned after October 1, 2023,
responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or
license as of the fee due date.
<bullet> International Services (Submarine Cable Systems,
Terrestrial and Satellite Services): Regulatory fees for submarine
cable systems are to be paid on a per cable landing license basis based
on lit circuit capacity as of December 31, 2023. Regulatory fees for
terrestrial and satellite IBCs are to be paid based on active (used or
leased) international bearer circuits as of December 31, 2023, in any
terrestrial or satellite transmission facility for the provision of
service to an end user or resale carrier. When calculating the number
of such active circuits, entities must include circuits used by
themselves or their affiliates. For these purposes, ``active circuits''
include backup and redundant circuits as of December 31, 2023. Whether
circuits are used specifically for voice or data is not relevant for
purposes of determining that they are active circuits. In instances
where a permit or license is transferred or assigned after October 1,
2023, responsibility for payment rests with the holder of the permit or
license as of the fee due date.
64. CMRS and Mobile Services Assessments. The Commission will
compile data from the Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast (NRUF)
report that is based on ``assigned'' telephone number (subscriber)
counts that have been adjusted for porting to net Type 0 ports (``in''
and ``out''). We have included non-geographic numbers in the
calculation of the number of subscribers for each CMRS provider in
Table 3 and the CMRS regulatory fee factor proposed in Table 4. CMRS
provider regulatory fees will be calculated and should be paid based on
the inclusion of non-geographic numbers. CMRS providers can adjust the
total number of subscribers, if needed. This information of telephone
numbers (subscriber count) will be

[[Page 53288]]

posted on the Commission's Registration System (CORES) along with the
carrier's Operating Company Numbers (OCNs).
65. A carrier wishing to revise its telephone number (subscriber)
count can do so by accessing CORES and following the prompts to revise
their telephone number counts. Any revisions to the telephone number
counts should be accompanied by an explanation. The Commission will
then review the revised count and supporting explanation, if any, and
either approve or disapprove the submission in CORES. If the submission
is disapproved, the Commission will contact the provider to afford the
provider an opportunity to discuss its revised subscriber count and/or
provide supporting documentation. If the Commission receives no
response from the provider, or the Commission does not reverse its
initial disapproval of the provider's revised count submission, the fee
payment must be based on the number of subscribers listed initially in
CORES. Once the timeframe for revision has passed, the telephone number
counts are final and are the basis upon which CMRS regulatory fees are
to be paid. Providers can view their final telephone counts online in
CORES.
66. Because some carriers do not file the NRUF report, they may not
see their telephone number counts in CORES. In these instances, the
carriers should compute their fee payment using the standard
methodology that is currently in place for CMRS Wireless services
(i.e., compute their telephone number counts as of December 31, 2024),
and submit their fee payment accordingly. Whether a carrier reviews its
telephone number counts in CORES or not, the Commission reserves the
right to audit the number of telephone numbers for which regulatory
fees are paid. In the event that the Commission determines that the
number of telephone numbers that are paid is inaccurate, the Commission
will bill the carrier for the difference between what was paid and what
should have been paid.
67. Regulatory Flexibility Act. The RFA requires that an agency
prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for notice and comment
rulemakings, unless the agency certifies that ``the rule will not, if
promulgated, have a significant economic impact on a substantial number
of small entities.'' Accordingly, we have prepared an IRFA concerning
the potential impact of rule and policy change proposals on small
entities in the NPRM. The IRFA is set forth in the back of this
rulemaking. The Commission invites the general public, in particular
small businesses, to comment on the IRFA. Comments must be filed by the
deadlines for comments on the NPRM indicated on the first page of this
document and must have a separate and distinct heading designating them
as responses to the IRFA.

List of Tables

Table 3--Calculation of FY 2024 Revenue Requirements and Pro-Rata Fees
Regulatory fees for the categories shaded in gray are collected by the Commission in advance to cover the term of the license and are submitted at the
time the application is filed.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2023 Pro-Rated FY Computed FY
Fee category FY 2024 payment Yrs revenue 2024 revenue 2024 Rounded FY Expected FY
units estimate requirement regulatory fee 2024 reg. fee 2024 revenue
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLMRS (Exclusive Use)......................... 1,150 10 300,000 287,500 25.00 25 287,500
PLMRS (Shared use)............................ 23,300 10 1,900,000 2,330,000 10.00 10 2,330,000
Microwave..................................... 16,500 10 4,000,000 4,125,000 25.00 25 4,125,000
Marine (Ship)................................. 7,000 10 1,050,000 1,050,000 15.00 15 1,050,000
Aviation (Aircraft)........................... 5,800 10 480,000 580,000 10.00 10 580,000
Marine (Coast)................................ 280 10 96,000 112,000 40.00 40 112,000
Aviation (Ground)............................. 270 10 60,000 54,000 20.00 20 54,000
AM Class A \1\................................ 58 1 286,800 266,175 4,589 4,590 266,220
AM Class B \1\................................ 1,305 1 3,556,605 3,302,737 2,531 2,530 3,301,650
AM Class C \1\................................ 784 1 1,273,910 1,182,590 1,508 1,510 1,183,840
AM Class D \1\................................ 1,325 1 4,208,245 3,906,677 2,948 2,950 3,908,750
FM Classes A, B1 & C3 \1\..................... 3,021 1 8,885,560 8,238,364 2,727 2,725 8,232,225
FM Classes B, C, C0, C1 & C2 \1\.............. 3,064 1 10,872,945 10,087,736 3,292 3,290 10,080,560
AM Construction Permits \2\................... 2 1 3,100 1,170 585 585 1,170
FM Construction Permits \2\................... 14 1 17,360 14,350 1,025 1,025 14,350
Digital Television \5\........................ 3.541 billion 1 25,463,735 23,365,758 .0065978 .006598 23,363,518
(including Satellite TV)...................... population
Digital TV Construction Permits \2\........... 5 1 20,400 26,000 5,200 5,200 26,000
LPTV/Class A/Translators FM Trans/Boosters.... 6,215 1 1,644,500 1,512,193 243.3 245 1,522,675
CARS Stations................................. 105 1 206,400 190,963 1,818.7 1,820 191,100
Cable TV Systems, including IPTV & DBS........ 50,000,000 1 68,880,000 63,437,881 1.2688 1.27 63,500,000
Interstate Telecommunication Service Providers $22,100,000,000 1 135,540,000 122,486,646 0.005542 0.005540 122,434,000
Toll Free Numbers............................. 35,000,000 1 4,511,000 4,208,697 0.12025 0.12 4,200,000
CMRS Mobile Services (Cellular/Public Mobile). 562,000,000 1 88,480,000 90,320,215 0.1607 0.16 89,920,000
CMRS Messaging Services....................... 600,000 1 104,000 48,000 0.0800 0.080 48,000
BRS/ \3\...................................... 1,200 1 836,500 870,000 725 725 870,000
LMDS.......................................... 370 1 252,000 268,250 725 725 268,250
Per Gbps circuit Int'l Bearer Circuits 20,000 1 442,000 329,712 16.5 17 340,000
Terrestrial (Common & Non-Common) & Satellite
(Common & Non-Common)........................
Submarine Cable Providers (See chart at bottom 71.56 1 8,228,605 6,264,533 87,542 87,540 6,264,362
of Table 4)\4\...............................
Earth Stations................................ 2,900 1 1,667,500 3,244,837 1,119 1,120 3,248,000
Space Stations (Geostationary)................ 134 1 15,990,880 31,112,505 232,183 232,185 31,112,790
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary, Other)..... 8 1 3,129,795 5,975,115 746,889 746,890 5,975,120
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary, Less 6 1 782,430 1,496,939 249,490 249,490 1,496,940
Complex).....................................
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary, Small 12 1 85,505 311,340 25,945 25,945 311,340
Satellite)...................................
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
****** Total Estimated Revenue to be ................. ..... 392,991,324 389,916,319 .............. .............. 390,621,601
Collected................................

[[Page 53289]]

****** Total Revenue Requirement.......... ................. ..... 390,192,000 390,192,000 .............. .............. 390,192,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Difference............................ ................. ..... 2,799,324 (275,681) .............. .............. 429,601
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes on Table 3:
\1\ The fee amounts listed in the column entitled ``Rounded New FY 2024 Regulatory Fee'' constitute a weighted average broadcast regulatory fee by class
of service. The actual FY 2024 regulatory fees for AM/FM radio station are listed on a grid located at the end of Table 4.
\2\ The AM and FM Construction Permit revenues and the Digital (VHF/UHF) Construction Permit revenues were adjusted, respectively, to set the regulatory
fee to an amount no higher than the lowest licensed fee for that class of service based on the threshold 10,001-25,000, the traditional basis for
identifying the lowest licensed fee. Reductions in the Digital (VHF/UHF) Construction Permit revenues, and in the AM and FM Construction Permit
revenues, were offset by increases in the revenue totals for Digital television stations by market size, and in the AM and FM radio stations by class
size and population served, respectively.
\3\ The MDS/MMDS category was renamed Broadband Radio Service (BRS). See Amendment of Parts 1, 21, 73, 74 and 101 of the Commission's Rules to
Facilitate the Provision of Fixed and Mobile Broadband Access, Educational and Other Advanced Services in the 2150-2162 and 2500-2690 MHz Bands,
Report & Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 19 FCC Rcd 14165, 14169, para. 6 (2004).
\4\ The chart at the end of Table 4 lists the submarine cable bearer circuit regulatory fees (common and non-common carrier basis) that resulted from
the adoption of the Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, 24
FCC Rcd 6388 (2008) and Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2008, Second Report and Order, 24 FCC Rcd 4208 (2009). The
Submarine Cable fee in Table A is a weighted average of the various fee payers in the chart at the end of Table 3.
\5\ The actual digital television regulatory fees to be paid by call sign are identified in Table 8.

Table 4--FY 2024 Schedule of Regulatory Fees
Regulatory fees for the categories shaded in gray are collected by the
Commission in advance to cover the term of the license and are submitted
at the time the application is filed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee category Annual regulatory fee (U.S. $s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLMRS (per license) (Exclusive Use) 25
(47 CFR part 90)...................
Microwave (per license) (47 CFR part 25
101)...............................
Marine (Ship) (per station) (47 CFR 15
part 80)...........................
Marine (Coast) (per license) (47 CFR 40
part 80)...........................
Rural Radio (47 CFR part 22) 10
(previously listed under the Land
Mobile category)...................
PLMRS (Shared Use) (per license) (47 10
CFR part 90).......................
Aviation (Aircraft) (per station) 10
(47 CFR part 87)...................
Aviation (Ground) (per license) (47 20
CFR part 87).......................
CMRS Mobile/Cellular Services (per .16
unit) (47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24, 27,
80 and 90) (Includes Non-Geographic
telephone numbers).................
CMRS Messaging Services (per unit) .08
(47 CFR parts 20, 22, 24 and 90)...
Broadband Radio Service (formerly 725
MMDS/MDS) (per license) (47 CFR
part 27)...........................
Distribution Service (per call sign) 725
(47 CFR, part 101).................
Local Multipoint.................... 725
AM Radio Construction Permits....... 585
FM Radio Construction Permits....... 1,025
AM and FM Broadcast Radio Station See Table Below
Fees...............................
Digital TV (47 CFR part 73) VHF and $.006598
UHF Commercial Fee Factor.......... See Table 8 for fee amounts due,
also available at <a href="https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees">https://www.fcc.gov/licensing-databases/fees/regulatory-fees</a>
Digital TV Construction Permits..... 5,200
Low Power TV, Class A TV, TV/FM 245
Translators & FM Boosters (47 CFR
part 74)...........................
CARS (47 CFR part 78)............... 1,820
Cable Television Systems (per 1.27
subscriber) (47 CFR part 76),
Including IPTV and Direct Broadcast
Satellite (DBS)....................
Interstate Telecommunication Service .00554
Providers (per revenue dollar).....
Toll Free (per toll free subscriber) .12
(47 CFR section 52.101 (f) of the
rules).............................
Earth Stations (47 CFR part 25)..... 1,120
Space Stations (per operational 232,185
station in geostationary orbit) (47
CFR part 25) also includes DBS
Service (per operational station)
(47 CFR part 100)..................
Space Stations (per operational 746,890
system in non-geostationary orbit)
(47 CFR part 25) (Other)...........
Space Stations (per operational 249,945
system in non-geostationary orbit)
(47 CFR part 25) (Less Complex)....
Space Stations (per license/call 25,945
sign in non-geostationary orbit)
(47 CFR part 25) (Small Satellite).
International Bearer Circuits-- $17
Terrestrial/Satellites (per Gbps
circuit)...........................
Submarine Cable Landing Licenses Fee See Table Below
(per cable system).................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

FY 2024 Radio Station Regulatory Fees
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FM Classes A, FM Classes B,
Population served AM Class A AM Class B AM Class C AM Class D B1 & C3 C, C0, C1 & C2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<=10,000................................................ $560 $405 $350 $385 $615 $700

[[Page 53290]]

10,001-25,000........................................... 935 675 585 645 1,025 1,170
25,001-75,000........................................... 1,405 1,015 880 970 1,540 1,755
75,001-150,000.......................................... 2,105 1,520 1,315 1,450 2,305 2,635
150,001-500,000......................................... 3,160 2,280 1,975 2,180 3,465 3,955
500,001-1,200,000....................................... 4,730 3,415 2,960 3,265 5,185 5,920
1,200,001-3,000,000..................................... 7,105 5,130 4,445 4,900 7,790 8,890
3,000,001-6,000,000..................................... 10,650 7,690 6,665 7,345 11,675 13,325
>6,000,000.............................................. 15,980 11,535 10,000 11,025 17,515 19,995
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FY 2024 International Bearer Circuits--Submarine Cable Systems
------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2024
Submarine cable systems (capacity as of Fee ratio regulatory
December 31, 2023) (units) fees
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Less than 50 Gbps....................... .0625 $5,475
50 Gbps or greater, but less than 250 .125 10,945
Gbps...................................
250 Gbps or greater, but less than 1,500 .25 21,885
Gbps...................................
1,500 Gbps or greater, but less than .5 43,770
3,500 Gbps.............................
3,500 Gbps or greater, but less than 1.0 87,540
6,500 Gbps.............................
6,500 Gbps or greater................... 2.0 175,080
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 5--Sources of Payment Unit Estimates for FY 2024

In order to calculate individual service fees for FY 2024, we
adjusted FY 2023 payment units for each service to more accurately
reflect expected FY 2024 payment liabilities. We obtained our updated
estimates through a variety of means and sources. For example, we used
Commission licensee data bases, actual prior year payment records and
industry and trade association projections, where available. The
databases we consulted include our Universal Licensing System (ULS),
International Bureau Filing System (IBFS), Licensing and Management
System (LMS) and Cable Operations and Licensing System (COALS), as well
as reports generated within the Commission such as the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau's Numbering Resource Utilization Forecast.
Regulatory fee payment units are not all the same for all fee
categories. For most fee categories, the term ``units'' reflect
licenses or permits that have been issued, but for other fee
categories, the term ``units'' reflect quantities such as subscribers,
population counts, circuit counts, telephone numbers, and revenues. As
more current data is received after the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
(NPRM) is released, the Commission sometimes adjusts the NPRM fee rates
to reflect the new information in the Report and Order. This is
intended to make sure that the fee rates in the Report and Order
reflect more recent and accurate information. We realize that by
adjusting the unit counts as more accurate information is received may
adjust the fee rates for certain regulatory fee categories. Certain
entities that collect the fees from customers in advance in order to
pay the Commission, such as Cable and DBS companies, ITSP providers,
Cell Phone and Toll-Free providers, to name a few, may need to adjust
their billings to customers as the Commission adjusts its fee rates. As
a result, the Commission understands that these adjustments are
necessary so that these regulatees can recover their fee obligations
from their customers.
We sought verification for these estimates from multiple sources
and, in all cases, we compared FY 2024 estimates with actual FY 2023
payment units to ensure that our revised estimates were reasonable.
Where appropriate, we adjusted and/or rounded our final estimates to
take into consideration the fact that certain variables that impact on
the number of payment units cannot yet be estimated with sufficient
accuracy. These include an unknown number of waivers and/or exemptions
that may occur in FY 2024 and the fact that, in many services, the
number of actual licensees or station operators fluctuates from time to
time due to economic, technical, or other reasons. When we note, for
example, that our estimated FY 2024 payment units are based on FY 2023
actual payment units, it does not necessarily mean that our FY 2024
projection is exactly the same number as in FY 2023. We have either
rounded the FY 2024 number or adjusted it slightly to account for these
variables.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fee category Sources of payment unit estimates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land Mobile (All), Microwave, Based on Wireless Telecommunications
Marine (Ship & Coast), Bureau (WTB) information as well as
Aviation (Aircraft & prior year payment information.
Ground), Domestic Public Estimates have been adjusted to take
Fixed. into consideration the licensing of
portions of these services.
CMRS Cellular/Mobile Services Based on WTB projection reports, and FY
2023 payment data.
CMRS Messaging Services...... Based on WTB reports, and FY 2023 payment
data.
AM/FM Radio Stations......... Based on downloaded LMS data, adjusted
for exemptions, and actual FY 2023
payment units.
Digital TV Stations (Combined Based on LMS data, fee rate adjusted for
VHF/UHF units). exemptions, and population figures are
calculated based on individual station
parameters.
AM/FM/TV Construction Permits Based on LMS data, adjusted for
exemptions, and actual FY 2023 payment
units.
LPTV, Translators and Based on LMS data, adjusted for
Boosters, Class A Television. exemptions, and actual FY 2023 payment
units.
BRS (formerly MDS/MMDS)LMDS.. Based on WTB reports and actual FY 2023
payment units. Based on WTB reports and
actual FY 2023 payment units.

[[Page 53291]]

Cable Television Relay Based on cable trend data, data from the
Service (CARS) Stations. Media Bureau's COALS database, and
actual FY 2023 payment units.
Cable Television System Based on publicly available data sources
Subscribers, Including IPTV for estimated subscriber counts, trend
Subscribers. information from past payment data, and
actual FY 2023 payment units.
Interstate Telecommunication Based on FCC Form 499-A worksheets due in
Service Providers. April 2024, and any data assistance
provided by the Wireline Competition
Bureau.
Earth Stations............... Based on International Bureau licensing
data and actual FY 2023 payment units.
Space Stations (GSOs & NGSOs) Based on International Bureau data
reports and actual FY 2023 payment
units.
International Bearer Circuits Based on assistance provided by the
International Bureau, any data
submissions by licensees, adjusted as
necessary, and actual FY 2023 payment
units.
Submarine Cable Licenses..... Based on International Bureau license
information, and actual FY 2023 payment
units.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 6--Factors, Measurements, and Calculations That Determine Station
Signal Contours and Associated Population Coverages

AM Stations

For stations with nondirectional daytime antennas, the theoretical
radiation was used at all azimuths. For stations with directional
daytime antennas, specific information on each day tower, including
field ratio, phase, spacing, and orientation was retrieved, as well as
the theoretical pattern root-mean-square of the radiation in all
directions in the horizontal plane (RMS) figure (milliVolt per meter
(mV/m) @1 km) for the antenna system. The standard, or augmented
standard if pertinent, horizontal plane radiation pattern was
calculated using techniques and methods specified in sections 73.150
and 73.152 of the Commission's rules. Radiation values were calculated
for each of 360 radials around the transmitter site. Next, estimated
soil conductivity data was retrieved from a database representing the
information in FCC Figure R3. Using the calculated horizontal radiation
values, and the retrieved soil conductivity data, the distance to the
principal community (5 mV/m) contour was predicted for each of the 360
radials. The resulting distance to principal community contours were
used to form a geographical polygon. Population counting was
accomplished by determining which 2020 block centroids were contained
in the polygon. (A block centroid is the center point of a small area
containing population as computed by the U.S. Census Bureau.) The sum
of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents the total
population for the predicted principal community coverage area.

FM Stations

The greater of the horizontal or vertical effective radiated power
(ERP) (kW) and respective height above average terrain (HAAT) (m)
combination was used. Where the antenna height above mean sea level
(HAMSL) was available, it was used in lieu of the average HAAT figure
to calculate specific HAAT figures for each of 360 radials under study.
Any available directional pattern information was applied as well, to
produce a radial-specific ERP figure. The HAAT and ERP figures were
used in conjunction with the Field Strength (50-50) propagation curves
specified in 47 CFR 73.313 of the Commission's rules to predict the
distance to the principal community (70 dBu (decibel above 1 microVolt
per meter) or 3.17 mV/m) contour for each of the 360 radials. The
resulting distance to principal community contours were used to form a
geographical polygon. Population counting was accomplished by
determining which 2020 block centroids were contained in the polygon.
The sum of the population figures for all enclosed blocks represents
the total population for the predicted principal community coverage
area.

Table 7--Space Station Satellite Charts for FY 2024 Regulatory Fees

Listing of Satellites Under Existing Methodology

Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit): U.S.-Licensed Space Stations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensee Call sign Satellite name Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Astranis Projects USA LLC..................... S3092 ARCTURUS........................ GSO
Open Plaza Corp............................... S2922 SKY-B1.......................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2640 DIRECTV T11..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2711 DIRECTV RB-1.................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2632 DIRECTV T8...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2669 DIRECTV T9S..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2641 DIRECTV T10..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2797 DIRECTV T12..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2930 DIRECTV T15..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2673 DIRECTV T5...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2133 SPACEWAY 2...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S3039 DIRECTV T16..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2931 ECHOSTAR 18..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2738 ECHOSTAR 11..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2694 ECHOSTAR 10..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2740 ECHOSTAR 7...................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2790 ECHOSTAR 14..................... GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation...... S2811 ECHOSTAR 15..................... GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation...... S2844 ECHOSTAR 16..................... GSO
EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C............. S2179 ECHOSTAR 9...................... GSO
ES 172 LLC.................................... S2610 EUTELSAT 174A................... GSO
ES 172 LLC.................................... S3021 EUTELSAT 172B................... GSO
Horizon-3 Satellite LLC....................... S2947 HORIZONS-3e..................... GSO

[[Page 53292]]

Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2663 SPACEWAY 3...................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2834 ECHOSTAR 19..................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2753 ECHOSTAR XVII................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC/ViaSat, Inc.............. S2160 GALAXY 28....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2414 INTELSAT 10-02.................. GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2972 INTELSAT 37e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2854 NSS-7........................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2409 INELSAT 905..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2405 INTELSAT 901.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2408 INTELSAT 904.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2804 INTELSAT 25..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2959 INTELSAT 35e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2237 INTELSAT 11..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2785 INTELSAT 14..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2380 INTELSAT 9...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2831 INTELSAT 23..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2915 INTELSAT 34..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2863 INTELSAT 21..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2750 INTELSAT 16..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2715 GALAXY 17....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2154 GALAXY 25....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2253 GALAXY 11....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2381 GALAXY 3C....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2887 INTELSAT 30..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2924 INTELSAT 31..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2647 GALAXY 19....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2687 GALAXY 16....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2733 GALAXY 18....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2385 GALAXY 14....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2386 GALAXY 13....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2422 GALAXY 12....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2387 GALAXY 15....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3016 GALAXY 30....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3078 GALAXY 32....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3148 GALAXY 36....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2704 INTELSAT 5...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2817 INTELSAT 18..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2850 INTELSAT 19..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2368 INTELSAT 1R..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2789 INTELSAT 15..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2423 HORIZONS 2...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2846 INTELSAT 22..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2847 INTELSAT 20..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2948 INTELSAT 36..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2814 INTELSAT 17..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2410 INTELSAT 906.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2406 INTELSAT 902.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2939 INTELSAT 33e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2382 INTELSAT 10..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2751 INTELSAT 28..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3023 INTELSAT 39..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3066 INTELSAT 40e.................... GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC............... S2358 SKYTERRA-1...................... GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC............... AMSC-1 MSAT-2.......................... GSO
Novavision Group, Inc......................... S2861 DIRECTV KU-79W.................. GSO
Satellite CD Radio LLC........................ S2812 FM-6............................ GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2415 NSS-10.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2162 AMC-3........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2347 AMC-6........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2826 SES-2........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2807 SES-1........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2180 AMC-15.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2713 AMC-18.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S3097 SES-19.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S3099 SES-21.......................... GSO
Silkwave Africa, LLC.......................... S3074 AsiaStar........................ GSO
Sirius XM Radio Inc........................... S2710 FM-5............................ GSO
Sirius XM Radio Inc........................... S3034 XM-8............................ GSO
Skynet Satellite Corp......................... S2933 TELSTAR 12V..................... GSO
Skynet Satellite Corporation.................. S2357 TELSTAR 11N..................... GSO
ViaSat, Inc................................... S2747 VIASAT-1........................ GSO
ViaSat, Inc................................... S2917 VIASAT-3........................ GSO

[[Page 53293]]

XM Radio LLC.................................. S2786 XM-5............................ GSO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit): Non-U.S.-Licensed Space Stations--Market Access Through Petition for
Declaratory Ruling
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensee Call sign Satellite name Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ABS Global Ltd................................ S2987 ABS-3A.......................... GSO
Avanti Hylas 2 Ltd............................ S3130 HYLAS-4......................... GSO
DBSD Services Ltd............................. S2651 DBSD G1......................... GSO
Embratel TVSAT Telecomunicacoes S.A........... S3142 Star One D2..................... GSO
Empresa Argentina de Soluciones Satelitales S2956 ARSAT-2......................... GSO
S.A.
Eutelsat S.A.................................. S3056 EUTELSAT 8 WEST B............... GSO
Eutelsat S.A.................................. S3055 EUTELSAT 139 WEST A............. GSO
Gamma Acquisition L.L.C....................... S2633 TerreStar 1..................... GSO
Hispamar Sat[eacute]lites, S.A................ S2793 AMAZONAS-2...................... GSO
Hispamar Sat[eacute]lites, S.A................ S2886 AMAZONAS-3...................... GSO
Hispamar Sat[eacute]lites, S.A................ S3086 AMAZONAS NEXUS.................. GSO
Hispasat, S.A................................. S2969 HISPASAT 30W-6.................. GSO
Inmarsat PLC.................................. S2932 Inmarsat-4 F3................... GSO
Inmarsat PLC.................................. S2949 Inmarsat-3 F5................... GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V...................... S2756 NSS-9........................... GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V...................... S2870 SES-6........................... GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V...................... S3048 NSS-6........................... GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V...................... S2828 SES-4........................... GSO
New Skies Satellites B.V...................... S2950 SES-10.......................... GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.............. S2695 EUTELSAT 113 WEST A............. GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.............. S2926 EUTELSAT 117 WEST B............. GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.............. S2938 EUTELSAT 115 WEST B............. GSO
Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V.............. S2873 EUTELSAT 117 WEST A............. GSO
SES Satellites (Gibraltar) Ltd................ S2676 AMC 21.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S3037 NSS-11.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2964 SES-11.......................... GSO
SES DTH do Brasil Ltda........................ S2974 SES-14.......................... GSO
Telesat Canada................................ S2745 ANIK F1......................... GSO
Telesat Canada................................ S2674 ANIK F1R........................ GSO
Telesat Canada................................ S2703 ANIK F3......................... GSO
Telesat Canada................................ S2472 ANIK F2......................... GSO
Telesat International Ltd..................... S2955 TELSTAR 19 VANTAGE.............. GSO
Viasat, Inc................................... S2902 VIASAT-2........................ GSO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit): Non-U.S.-Licensed Space Stations--Market Access Through Earth Station
Licenses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensee Call sign Satellite name Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
APSTAR VI..................................... APSTAR 6........................ M292090 GSO
AUSSAT B 152E................................. OPTUS D2........................ M221170 GSO
Ciel Satellite Group.......................... Ciel-2.......................... E050029 GSO
Eutelsat 65 West A............................ Eutelsat 65 West A.............. E160081 GSO
INMARSAT 4F1.................................. INMARSAT 4F1.................... KA25 GSO
INMARSAT 5F2.................................. INMARSAT 5F2.................... E120072 GSO
INMARSAT 5F3.................................. INMARSAT 5F3.................... E150028 GSO
JCSAT-2B...................................... JCSAT-2B........................ M174163 GSO
NIMIQ 5....................................... NIMIQ 5......................... E080107 GSO
WILDBLUE-1.................................... WILDBLUE-1...................... E040213 GSO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 53294]]

Loft Orbital Solutions Inc.............. YAM-5..................... S3147 Small Satellite.
Turion Space Corp....................... DROID.001................. S3146 Small Satellite.
R2 Space, Inc........................... XR-1...................... S3067 Small Satellite.
ICEYE US, Inc........................... ICEYE..................... S3082 Small Satellite.
Umbra Lab Inc........................... Umbra SAR................. S3095 Small Satellite.
ICEYE US, Inc........................... ICEYE Second Tranche...... S3165 Small Satellite.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Less Complex
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITU name (if available) Common name Call sign Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planet Labs............................. Flock/Skysats............. S2912 Less Complex.
Maxar License........................... WorldView 1, 2 & 3, GeoEye- S2129/S2348 Less Complex.
1.
BlackSky Global......................... Global.................... S3032 Less Complex.
Orbital Sidekick, Inc................... GHOSt..................... S3139 Less Complex.
Hawkeye 360............................. HE360..................... S3042 Less Complex.
Spire Global............................ LEMUR & MINAS............. S2946/S3045 Less Complex.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Other
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITU name (if available) Common name Call sign Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORBCOMM License Corp.................... ORBCOMM................... S2103 Other.
Iridium Constellation LLC............... IRIDIUM................... S2110 Other.
Telesat Canada.......................... TELESAT Ku/Ka-Band........ S2976 Other.
Kepler Communications, Inc.............. KEPLER.................... S2981 Other.
O3b Ltd................................. O3b....................... S2935 Other.
Globalstar License LLC.................. GLOBALSTAR................ S2115 Other.
Swarm Technologies (Space Exploration SWARM..................... S3041 Other.
Holdings, LLC).
WorldVu Satellites Ltd.................. ONEWEB.................... S2963 Other.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Station Satellite Charts for Proposed FY 2024 Regulatory Fees

Table A--Space Stations Potentially Subject to Regulatory Fees in FY
2024
These charts publish a list of space stations and systems that
would be subject to regulatory fees in FY 2024, including under the
proposal made in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking to assess regulatory fees on all authorized space
stations, not only operational space stations.
Italicized entries reflect that the space station or system of NGSO
space stations are authorized, but not operational for FY 2024, or are
collocated with another GSO space station, and thus would be required
to pay regulatory fees for FY 2024 if the proposals made in the Space
and Earth Station Regulatory Fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to
amend the existing methodology or under the alternative methodology are
adopted, but would not otherwise be required to pay regulatory fees
under the existing methodology.

Space Stations (Geostationary Orbit): U.S.-Licensed Space Stations
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Licensee Call sign Satellite name Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Astranis Projects USA LLC..................... S3092 ARCTURUS........................ GSO
Open Plaza Corp............................... S2922 SKY-B1.......................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2640 DIRECTV T11..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2711 DIRECTV RB-1.................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2632 DIRECTV T8...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2669 DIRECTV T9S..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2641 DIRECTV T10..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2797 DIRECTV T12..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2930 DIRECTV T15..................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2673 DIRECTV T5...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S2133 SPACEWAY 2...................... GSO
DIRECTV Enterprises, LLC...................... S3039 DIRECTV T16..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2931 ECHOSTAR 18..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2738 ECHOSTAR 11..................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2694/S3093 ECHOSTAR 10/ECHOSTAR 23......... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2740 ECHOSTAR 7...................... GSO
DISH Operating L.L.C.......................... S2790 ECHOSTAR 14..................... GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation...... S2811 ECHOSTAR 15..................... GSO
EchoStar Satellite Operating Corporation...... S2844 ECHOSTAR 16..................... GSO

[[Page 53295]]

EchoStar Satellite Services L.L.C............. S2179 ECHOSTAR 9...................... GSO
ES 172 LLC.................................... S2610 EUTELSAT 174A................... GSO
ES 172 LLC.................................... S3021 EUTELSAT 172B................... GSO
Horizon-3 Satellite LLC....................... S2947 HORIZONS-3e..................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2663 SPACEWAY 3...................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2834 ECHOSTAR 19..................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S2753 ECHOSTAR XVII................... GSO
Hughes Network Systems, LLC................... S3017 EchoStar XXIV................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC/ViaSat, Inc.............. S2160 GALAXY 28....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2414 INTELSAT 10-02.................. GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2972 INTELSAT 37e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2854 NSS-7........................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2409 INELSAT 905..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2405 INTELSAT 901.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2408 INTELSAT 904.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2804 INTELSAT 25..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2959 INTELSAT 35e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2237 INTELSAT 11..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2785 INTELSAT 14..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2380 INTELSAT 9...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2831 INTELSAT 23..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2915 INTELSAT 34..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2863 INTELSAT 21..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2750 INTELSAT 16..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2715 GALAXY 17....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2154 GALAXY 25....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2253 GALAXY 11....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2381 GALAXY 3C....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2887 INTELSAT 30..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2924/S3143 INTELSAT 31/GALAXY 35........... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2647 GALAXY 19....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2687 GALAXY 16....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2733 GALAXY 18....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2385 GALAXY 14....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2386 GALAXY 13....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2422/S3083 GALAXY 12/GALAXY 34............. GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2387/S3015 GALAXY 15/GALAXY 33............. GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3016 GALAXY 30....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3078 GALAXY 32....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3148 GALAXY 36....................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2704 INTELSAT 5...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2817 INTELSAT 18..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2850 INTELSAT 19..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2368 INTELSAT 1R..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2789 INTELSAT 15..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2423 HORIZONS 2...................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2846 INTELSAT 22..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2847 INTELSAT 20..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2948 INTELSAT 36..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2814 INTELSAT 17..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2410 INTELSAT 906.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2406 INTELSAT 902.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2939 INTELSAT 33e.................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2382 INTELSAT 10..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S2751 INTELSAT 28..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3023 INTELSAT 39..................... GSO
Intelsat License LLC.......................... S3066 INTELSAT 40e.................... GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC............... S2358 SKYTERRA-1...................... GSO
Ligado Networks Subsidiary, LLC............... AMSC-1 MSAT-2.......................... GSO
Novavision Group, Inc......................... S2861 DIRECTV KU-79W.................. GSO
Satellite CD Radio LLC........................ S2812 FM-6............................ GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2415 NSS-10.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2162 AMC-3........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2347 AMC-6........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2826 SES-2........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2807 SES-1........................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2892/S3096/ SES-3/SES-18/SES-20............. GSO
S3098
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2180 AMC-15.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S2713 AMC-18.......................... GSO
Telesat Canada................................ S2433 AMC-11.......................... GSO
SES Americom, Inc............................. S3097/S3138 SES-19/SES-22................... GSO

[[Page 53296]]

SES Americom, Inc............................. S3099 SES-21.......................... GSO
Silkwave Africa, LLC.......................... S2666 AfriStar-2...................... GSO
Silkwave Africa, LLC.......................... S3074 AsiaStar........................ GSO
Sirius XM Radio Inc........................... S2710 FM-5............................ GSO
Sirius XM Radio Inc........................... S3034/S2617/ XM-8/XM-3/XM-4//XM-7............ GSO
S2616/S3033
Skynet Satellite Corporation.................. S2933 TELSTAR 12V..................... GSO
Skynet Satellite Corporation.................. S2357 TELSTAR 11N..................... GSO
ViaSat, Inc................................... S2747 VIASAT-1........................ GSO
ViaSat, Inc................................... S2917/S3050 VIASAT-3/VIASAT-89US............ GSO
XM Radio LLC.................................. S2786 XM-5............................ GSO
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 53297]]

Space Stations (Per License/Call Sign in Non-Geostationary Orbit)
(Small Satellite)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ITU Name (if available) Common name Call sign Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capella Space Corp................... Capella-2, Capella-3, S3073.................. Small Satellite.
Capella-4.
Capella Space Corp................... Capella-5, Capella-6... S3080.................. Small Satellite.
Capella Space Corp................... Capella-7, Capella-8... S3100.................. Small Satellite.
Capella Space Corp................... Acadia-1............... S3162.................. Small Satellite.
Launcher, Inc........................ Orbiter SN3............ S3161.................. Small Satellite.
Loft Orbital Solutions Inc........... YAM-3.................. S3072.................. Small Satellite.
Loft Orbital Solutions Inc........... YAM-5.................. S3147.................. Small Satellite.
Turion Space Corp.................... DROID.001.............. S3146.................. Small Satellite.
R2 Space, Inc........................ XR-1................... S3067.................. Small Satellite.
ICEYE US, Inc........................ ICEYE.................. S3082.................. Small Satellite.
Umbra Lab Inc........................ Umbra SAR.............. S3095.................. Small Satellite.
Space Logistics, LLC................. MISSION EXTENSION S2990.................. RPO/OOS.
VEHICLE-1.
Space Logistics, LLC................. MISSION EXTENSION S3059.................. RPO/OOS.
VEHICLE-2.
Momentus Space LLC................... VIGORIDE-5............. S3144.................. OTV.
Momentus Space LLC................... VIGORIDE-6............. S3154.................. OTV.
Spaceflight Inc...................... SHERPA-AC1............. S3133.................. OTV.
Lynk Global, Inc..................... Lynk Tower 1-10........ S3087.................. Small Satellite.
Outpost Technologies Corporation..... Outpost Mission 2...... S3174.................. Small Satellite.
Odyssey SpaceWorks................... OSW Cazorla............ S3176.................. Small Satellite.
ICEYE US, Inc........................ ICEYE Second Tranche... S3165.................. Small Satellite.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Less Complex
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
ITU name (if available) Common name Call sign Type space stations
authorized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Planet Labs...................... Flock/Skysats....... S2912 Less Complex........ 566
Maxar License.................... WorldView 1,2 & 3, S2129/S2348 Less Complex........ 15
GeoEye-1.
BlackSky Global.................. Global.............. S3032 Less Complex........ 16
Orbital Sidekick, Inc............ GHOSt............... S3139 Less Complex........ 6
Hawkeye 360...................... HE360............... S3042 Less Complex........ 174
Spire Global..................... LEMUR & MINAS....... S2946/S3045 Less Complex........ 636
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Small Constellation)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
ITU name (if available) Common name Call sign space stations
authorized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ORBCOMM License Corp.......................... ORBCOMM......................... S2103 72
Iridium Constellation LLC..................... IRIDIUM......................... S2110 99
Telesat Canada................................ TELESAT Ku/Ka-Band.............. S2976 117
Kepler Communications, Inc.................... KEPLER.......................... S2981 140
Myriota Pty. Ltd.............................. MYRIOTA......................... S3047 26
O3b Ltd....................................... O3b............................. S2935 42
Globalstar License LLC........................ GLOBALSTAR...................... S2115 96
Swarm Technologies (Space Exploration SWARM........................... S3041 150
Holdings, LLC).
Theia Holdings A, Inc......................... THEIA........................... S2986 112
Space Norway AS............................... ARCTIC SATELLITE BROADBAND S2978 2
MISSION.
Kin[eacute]is................................. KIN[Eacute]IS................... S3054 25
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Space Stations (Non-Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Large Constellation)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
ITU name (if available) Common name Call sign space stations
authorized
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space Exploration Holdings, LLC............... SPACEX Ku/Ka-Band............... S2983/S3018/ 4408
Space Exploration Holdings, LLC............... SPACEX GEN 2.................... S3069 7500
WorldVu Satellites Ltd........................ ONEWEB.......................... S2963 720
WorldVu Satellites Limited, Debtor-in- ONEWEB V-BAND................... S2994 2000
Possession.
Kuiper Systems LLC............................ KUIPER.......................... S3051 5236
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 53298]]

Table B--FY 2024 Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees Calculations
if Proposals To Amend the Existing Fee Methodology are Adopted and
Effective

The following chart provides an analysis of potential regulatory
fees for space and earth stations for FY 2024 assuming all the
proposals to amend the existing methodology for determining space and
earth station fees in the Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 24-31, are adopted and
effective for FY 2024. These proposals include reallocation of the
split of space station regulatory fees between GSO and NGSO from 80/20
to 60/40, creation of new fee categories for Large and Small
Constellations in the NGSO ``other'' category, assessment of fees on
authorized, not just operational, space stations, establishment of a
fixed fee for small satellites/spacecraft fee, assessing fees on
rendezvous and proximity operations (RPO), on-orbit servicing (OOS),
and orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) space stations using the fee
category for small satellites, and an allocation of 20% of Space Bureau
regulatory fees to earth stations. It assumes the same number of earth
station payors in FY 2024 as there were in FY 2023 (2900 units). It
does not incorporate the proposals included in the alternative
methodology.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Space Bureau Share of FCC FY 2024 $42,140,736 (rounded up to
Appropriation. nearest dollar).
Equals $390,192,000 times 10.8%
Earth Station Share of Space Bureau FTE $8,428,148 (rounded up to
Burden. nearest dollar).
Equals Space Bureau Share of FCC FY
2024 Appropriation * 20% (proposed)
Per Unit Fee--Earth Stations: Transmit/ $2,907 (rounded up to nearest
Receive & Transmit only (per dollar).
authorization or registration).
Equals Earth Station Share of Space
Bureau FTE Burden/2,900 units (FY
2023)
Space Station Share of Space Bureau FTE $33,712,589 (rounded up to
Burden (Includes GSO and NGS O nearest dollar).
Satellites)..
Equals GSO Space Bureau Share of $26,970,070 divided by 136 GSO
FCC FY 2024 Appropriation * 80% Satellites = $198,309 per
(proposed). satellite.
Equals GSO Space Station Share of $20,227,553 divided by 136 GSO
Space Bureau FTE Burden * 60% Satellites = $148,732.
(proposed).
Small Satellite Share of Space Station $244,300 (rounded up to nearest
Share. dollar).
Equals FY 2023 small satellite fee NGSO--Other Revenue Portion--
($12,215) * 20 estimated small $195,440.
satellite fee payors in FY 2024 NGSO--Less Complex Portion--
(including RPO, OOS, or OTV space $48,860.
stations).
NGSO Space Station Share of Space $13,485,035 (rounded up to
Bureau FTE Burden. nearest dollar).
Equals NGSO Space Station Share of $10,788,028 divided by 16 units
Space Bureau FTE Burden * 40% = $674,252 fee.
(proposed)). With Small Satellite Reduction
NGSO--Other at 80%................ = $662,037.
NGSO--Less Complex at 20%......... $2,697,007 divided by 6 units =
$449,501 fee.
With Small Satellite Reduction
= $441,358.
NGSO Space Station Share of Space $6,742,518 (rounded up to
Bureau FTE Burden. nearest dollar).
Share at 20% (proposed)............ $5,394,014 divided by 16 units
Equals NGSO Space Station Share-- = $337,126.
20%. With Small Satellite Reduction
NGSO--Other at 80%................ = $324,911.
NGSO--Less Complex at 20%.......... $1,348,504 divided by 6 units =
$224,751.
With Small Satellite Reduction
= $216,607.
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary $5,394,014 divided by 50% =
Orbit)--Other (Large Constellations) $2,697,007.
Share.
Equals NGSO Other * 50%-Proposed 20%
Per System Fee--Space Stations (Non- $5,394,014 divided by 3 =
Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Large $1,798,005 (rounded up to
Constellations). nearest dollar).
Equals NGSO Other (Large
Constellation) Share/3 authorized
(SpaceX, OneWeb, Kuiper)
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary $5,394,014 divided by 50% =
Orbit)--Other (Small Constellations) $2,697,007.
Share.
Equals NGSO Other * 50%-Proposed 20%
Per System Fee--Space Stations (Non- $5,394,014 divided by 12 =
Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Small $449,501 (rounded up to
Constellations). nearest dollar).
Equals NGSO Other (Small
Constellation) Share/12 authorized
(O3b, Kepler , Swarm, Iridium,
Globalstar, Orbcomm Space Norway,
Theia, Viasat, Myriota, Kineis,
Telesat)
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary $10,788,028 divided by 50% =
Orbit)--Other (Large Constellations) $5,394,014.
Share.
Equals NGSO Other * 50%--Proposed 40%
Per System Fee--Space Stations (Non- $10,788,028 divided by 3 =
Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Large $3,596,009 (rounded up to
Constellations). nearest dollar).
Equals NGSO Other (Large
Constellation) Share/3 authorized
(SpaceX, OneWeb, Kuiper)
Space Stations (Non-Geostationary $10,788,028 divided by 50% =
Orbit)--Other (Small Constellations) $5,394,014.
Share.
Equals NGSO Other * 50%--Proposed 40%
Per System Fee--Space Stations (Non- $10,788,028 divided by 12 =
Geostationary Orbit)--Other (Small $899,002 (rounded up to
Constellations). nearest dollar).
Equals NGSO Other (Small
Constellation) Share/12 authorized
(O3b, Kepler, Swarm, Iridium,
Globalstar, Orbcomm Space Norway,
Theia, Viasat, Myriota, Kineis,
Telesat)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

[[Page 53299]]

Table C--FY 2024 Space and Earth Station Regulatory Fees Calculated if
the Proposed Alternative Fee Methodology is Adopted and Effective

The following chart provides an analysis of potential regulatory
fees for space and earth stations for FY 2024 if the alternative
methodology for assessing space station fees in the Space and Earth
Station Regulatory Fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), FCC 24-
31, is adopted and effective for FY 2024. It assumes that the share of
space station regulatory fees will be 80% of all Space Bureau fees for
FY 2024 ($33,712,589), and that 20 small satellite payors (including
RPO, OOS, and OTV space stations) will contribute $244,300 in
collections, resulting in $33,468,289 to be collected from remaining
space station payors. It also assumes that the proposal to assess
regulatory fees on authorized, not just operational, space stations is
adopted.
Number of GSO Units: 150 (estimate of 135 operational and 15 authorized
GSO space stations for FY 2024)
Number of NGSO Units (non-small sats): 70 (using 500 space station
tiers); 49 (using 1,000 space station tiers)
Total Number of Units (GSO + NGSO (non-small sats)): 220 (using 500
space station tiers); 199 (using 1000 space station tiers)
Fee per Unit/Tier: $152,129 (500 space station tier); $168,182 (1,000
space station tier) (This number would be the annual fee for all
authorized GSO space stations; for NGSO space stations--other than
small satellites--the fee would be calculated by taking the fee per
unit for the first 100 authorized space stations per system, and adding
the number of additional units, on either per 500 or per 1000
authorized space stations for each additional tier)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of
Number of units Total Number of Total estimated
Licensee--call sign(s) authorized assessed (500 estimated fee units assessed fee (1,000 tier)
space stations tier) (500 tier) (1,000 tier)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maxar (WORLDVIEW 1, 2, and 3/ 15 1 $152,129 1 $168,183
WORLDVIEW LEGION 1-12), S2129.
Planet FLOCK/SKYSAT/PELICAN, 566 3 456,386 2 336,365
S2912.
SPIRE GLOBAL, S2946/S3045..... 636 3 456,386 2 336,365
BlackSky Global, S3032........ 16 1 152,129 1 168,183
Hawkeye 360, S3042............ 174 2 304,258 2 336,365
Swarm, S3041.................. 150 2 304,258 2 336,365
Orbital Sidekick, S3139....... 16 1 152,129 1 168,183
Myriota, S3047................ 26 1 152,129 1 168,183
Kineis, S3054................. 25 1 152,129 1 168,183
ORBCOMM License Corp., S2103.. 72 1 152,129 1 168,183
Iridium Constellation LLC, 99 1 152,129 1 168,183
S2110.
GLOBALSTAR, S2115............. 96 1 152,129 1 168,183
O3b, S2935.................... 42 1 152,129 1 168,183
WorldVU Satellites Ltd. 2720 6 912,772 4 672,730
(OneWeb) Ku-/Ka-band/V-band,
S2963/S2994.
Telesat Canada (Ku/Ka-band), 117 2 304,258 2 336,365
S2976.
Theia, S2986.................. 112 2 304,258 2 336,365
Space Norway, S2978........... 2 1 152,129 1 168,183
Kepler Communications, Inc., 140 2 304,258 2 336,365
S2981.
Viasat, S2985................. 20 1 152,129 1 168,183
Kuiper, S3051................. 5236 12 1,825,544 7 1,177,277
SpaceX (Ku/Ka-band/Gen-2), 11,908 25 3,803,215 13 2,186,371
S2983/S3018/S3069.
Total Number of NGSO Units.... .............. 70 10,659,001 49 8,240,936
Total Number of GSO Units..... .............. 150 22,812,889 150 25,227,354
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................... .............. 220 33,468,289 199 33,468,289
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Table 8--FY 2024 Full-Service Broadcast Television Stations by Call Sign
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrain
Facility Id. Call sign Service area Terrain limited limited fee
population population amount
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3246............................... KAAH-TV.............. 1,018,897 939,246 $6,197
18285.............................. KAAL................. 605,222 580,564 3,831
11912.............................. KAAS-TV.............. 243,984 243,947 1,610
56528.............................. KABB................. 3,017,860 3,000,477 19,797
282................................ KABC-TV.............. 18,303,336 17,670,502 116,590
1236............................... KACV-TV.............. 383,228 383,071 2,528
33261.............................. KADN-TV.............. 889,583 889,583 5,869
8263............................... KAEF-TV.............. 139,510 124,133 819
2728............................... KAET................. 4,867,739 4,836,434 31,911
2767............................... KAFT................. 1,294,492 1,218,670 8,041
62442.............................. KAID................. 864,547 857,276 5,656
4145............................... KAII-TV.............. 203,698 179,435 1,184
67494.............................. KAIL................. 2,091,288 2,061,175 13,600
13988.............................. KAIT................. 594,090 583,749 3,852
40517.............................. KAJB................. 393,654 393,355 2,595
65522.............................. KAKE................. 821,488 816,811 5,389
804................................ KAKM................. 397,237 395,241 2,608

[[Page 53300]]

148................................ KAKW-DT.............. 3,350,876 3,242,159 21,392
51598.............................. KALB-TV.............. 933,915 932,500 6,153
51241.............................. KALO................. 1,018,088 971,631 6,411
40820.............................. KAMC................. 411,973 411,949 2,718
8523............................... KAMR-TV.............. 377,485 377,410 2,490
65301.............................. KAMU-TV.............. 395,784 392,044 2,587
2506............................... KAPP................. 337,194 298,159 1,967
3658............................... KARD................. 680,743 678,724 4,478
23079.............................. KARE................. 4,243,145 4,234,439 27,939
33440.............................. KARK-TV.............. 1,243,813 1,230,366 8,118
37005.............................. KARZ-TV.............. 1,153,588 1,134,221 7,484
32311.............................. KASA-TV.............. 1,198,361 1,159,350 7,649
41212.............................. KASN................. 1,200,705 1,185,725 7,823
7143............................... KASW................. 4,828,272 4,813,078 31,757
55049.............................. KASY-TV.............. 1,182,887 1,143,258 7,543
33471.............................. KATC................. 1,376,057 1,376,057 9,079
13813.............................. KATN................. 95,520 95,197 628
21649.............................. KATU................. 3,400,708 3,238,560 21,368
33543.............................. KATV................. 1,285,451 1,265,986 8,353
50182.............................. KAUT-TV.............. 1,810,654 1,809,428 11,939
21488.............................. KAUU................. 398,876 396,486 2,616
6864............................... KAUZ-TV.............. 366,943 365,162 2,409
73101.............................. KAVU-TV.............. 323,202 322,961 2,131
49579.............................. KAWB................. 193,767 193,705 1,278
49578.............................. KAWE................. 139,854 137,788 909
58684.............................. KAYU-TV.............. 925,282 861,276 5,683
29234.............................. KAZA-TV.............. 15,481,136 14,233,993 93,916
17433.............................. KAZD................. 8,087,952 8,085,339 53,347
776273............................. KAZF................. 253,785 188,057 1,241
1151............................... KAZQ................. 1,137,703 1,126,947 7,436
35811.............................. KAZT-TV.............. 495,353 409,112 2,699
4148............................... KBAK-TV.............. 1,626,532 1,363,867 8,999
16940.............................. KBCA................. 465,218 465,157 3,069
53586.............................. KBCB................. 1,510,168 1,478,647 9,756
22685.............................. KBDI-TV.............. 4,731,715 4,335,180 28,604
56384.............................. KBEH................. 18,512,098 18,476,669 121,909
65395.............................. KBFD-DT.............. 1,016,508 887,671 5,857
169030............................. KBGS-TV.............. 176,432 173,977 1,148
61068.............................. KBHE-TV.............. 153,390 144,914 956
48556.............................. KBIM-TV.............. 226,233 226,194 1,492
29108.............................. KBIN-TV.............. 1,014,918 1,013,041 6,684
33658.............................. KBJR-TV.............. 278,564 274,572 1,812
83306.............................. KBLN-TV.............. 322,286 145,745 962
63768.............................. KBLR................. 2,280,730 2,220,879 14,653
53324.............................. KBME-TV.............. 146,149 146,082 964
10150.............................. KBMT................. 799,217 798,262 5,267
22121.............................. KBMY................. 142,682 142,622 941
49760.............................. KBOI-TV.............. 869,688 862,287 5,689
55370.............................. KBRR................. 154,408 154,405 1,019
66414.............................. KBSD-DT.............. 151,986 151,901 1,002
66415.............................. KBSH-DT.............. 97,884 95,916 633
19593.............................. KBSI................. 730,259 728,325 4,805
66416.............................. KBSL-DT.............. 47,462 46,328 306
4939............................... KBSV................. 1,535,281 1,424,913 9,402
62469.............................. KBTC-TV.............. 4,319,699 4,228,861 27,902
61214.............................. KBTV-TV.............. 771,692 771,692 5,092
6669............................... KBTX-TV.............. 5,354,551 5,351,089 35,306
35909.............................. KBVO................. 1,911,833 1,684,206 11,112
58618.............................. KBVU................. 136,908 121,846 804
6823............................... KBYU-TV.............. 2,838,181 2,620,447 17,290
33756.............................. KBZK................. 156,388 139,258 919
21422.............................. KCAL-TV.............. 18,258,912 17,586,821 116,038
11265.............................. KCAU-TV.............. 769,096 754,352 4,977
14867.............................. KCBA................. 3,334,176 2,557,080 16,872
27507.............................. KCBD................. 433,372 432,694 2,855
9628............................... KCBS-TV.............. 18,628,137 17,359,665 114,539
49750.............................. KCBY-TV.............. 92,825 77,624 512
33710.............................. KCCI................. 1,216,146 1,209,219 7,978
9640............................... KCCW-TV.............. 294,831 287,246 1,895
63158.............................. KCDO-TV.............. 3,305,368 3,160,730 20,854
62424.............................. KCDT................. 807,726 762,258 5,029

[[Page 53301]]

83913.............................. KCEB................. 446,377 445,850 2,942
57219.............................. KCEC................. 4,497,531 4,237,580 27,960
10245.............................. KCEN-TV.............. 2,224,490 2,174,193 14,345
13058.............................. KCET................. 17,868,933 16,310,676 107,618
18079.............................. KCFW-TV.............. 196,292 157,001 1,036
132606............................. KCGE-DT.............. 129,244 129,244 853
60793.............................. KCHF................. 1,157,628 1,127,207 7,437
33722.............................. KCIT................. 392,243 391,646 2,584
62468.............................. KCKA................. 1,082,723 906,771 5,983
41969.............................. KCLO-TV.............. 150,949 145,392 959
47903.............................. KCNC-TV.............. 4,460,509 4,175,114 27,547
71586.............................. KCNS................. 9,007,762 8,012,556 52,867
33742.............................. KCOP-TV.............. 18,134,022 17,318,605 114,268
19117.............................. KCOS................. 1,092,982 1,092,792 7,210
63165.............................. KCOY-TV.............. 700,154 478,768 3,159
33894.............................. KCPQ................. 5,131,164 4,985,829 32,896
53843.............................. KCPT................. 2,690,171 2,688,808 17,741
33875.............................. KCRA-TV.............. 11,608,107 7,153,845 47,201
9719............................... KCRG-TV.............. 1,174,546 1,156,435 7,630
60728.............................. KCSD-TV.............. 323,237 323,093 2,132
59494.............................. KCSG................. 229,899 220,818 1,457
33749.............................. KCTS-TV.............. 4,848,434 4,778,758 31,530
41230.............................. KCTV................. 2,732,197 2,730,443 18,015
58605.............................. KCVU................. 700,745 689,702 4,551
10036.............................. KCWC-DT.............. 42,872 38,501 254
64444.............................. KCWE................. 2,642,880 2,641,432 17,428
51502.............................. KCWI-TV.............. 1,152,163 1,151,070 7,595
42008.............................. KCWO-TV.............. 55,411 55,383 365
166511............................. KCWV................. 210,633 210,626 1,390
24316.............................. KCWX................. 4,947,756 4,941,660 32,605
68713.............................. KCWY-DT.............. 85,085 84,715 559
22201.............................. KDAF................. 7,951,276 7,949,040 52,448
33764.............................. KDBC-TV.............. 1,101,513 1,097,028 7,238
79258.............................. KDCK................. 43,010 42,993 284
166332............................. KDCU-DT.............. 773,823 773,808 5,106
38375.............................. KDEN-TV.............. 3,968,060 3,943,641 26,020
17037.............................. KDFI................. 7,990,955 7,989,287 52,713
33770.............................. KDFW................. 7,962,141 7,959,855 52,519
29102.............................. KDIN-TV.............. 1,193,740 1,189,191 7,846
25454.............................. KDKA-TV.............. 3,569,162 3,428,192 22,619
60740.............................. KDKF................. 73,619 66,137 436
4691............................... KDLH................. 267,326 264,686 1,746
41975.............................. KDLO-TV.............. 214,024 213,819 1,411
55379.............................. KDLT-TV.............. 700,230 689,305 4,548
55375.............................. KDLV-TV.............. 98,101 97,673 644
25221.............................. KDMD................. 394,250 391,278 2,582
78915.............................. KDMI................. 1,248,443 1,247,337 8,230
56524.............................. KDNL-TV.............. 3,013,924 3,009,244 19,855
24518.............................. KDOC-TV.............. 18,264,021 17,379,123 114,667
1005............................... KDOR-TV.............. 1,180,603 1,177,894 7,772
60736.............................. KDRV................. 551,809 469,537 3,098
61064.............................. KDSD-TV.............. 65,355 60,171 397
53329.............................. KDSE................. 52,777 51,188 338
56527.............................. KDSM-TV.............. 1,202,702 1,201,866 7,930
49326.............................. KDTN................. 7,901,133 7,898,922 52,117
83491.............................. KDTP................. 25,965 23,729 157
33778.............................. KDTV-DT.............. 8,697,794 7,750,134 51,135
67910.............................. KDTX-TV.............. 7,985,188 7,983,676 52,676
126................................ KDVR................. 4,301,541 4,144,268 27,344
18084.............................. KECI-TV.............. 228,161 210,560 1,389
51208.............................. KECY-TV.............. 407,175 403,848 2,665
58408.............................. KEDT................. 527,343 527,343 3,479
55435.............................. KEET................. 181,333 161,389 1,065
37103.............................. KEKE................. 105,022 101,614 670
41983.............................. KELO-TV.............. 767,130 715,437 4,720
34440.............................. KEMO-TV.............. 9,007,762 8,012,556 52,867
776162............................. KEMS................. 55,920 54,847 362
2777............................... KEMV................. 634,060 576,758 3,805
26304.............................. KENS................. 3,091,086 3,077,749 20,307
63845.............................. KENV-DT.............. 52,294 45,932 303
18338.............................. KENW................. 85,762 85,762 566

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50591.............................. KEPB-TV.............. 631,758 574,973 3,794
56029.............................. KEPR-TV.............. 515,354 493,941 3,259
49324.............................. KERA-TV.............. 7,984,381 7,981,440 52,662
40878.............................. KERO-TV.............. 1,387,245 1,2

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Indexed from Federal Register on June 25, 2024.

This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.